Franciscus & de Sultan

More than 800 years ago, Francis of Assisi walked barefoot to the camp of Sultan Malek al-Kamil. Instead of fighting, Francis and the sultan engaged in spiritual conversations for three days and saw in each other a longing for peace. This is how they ended the cycle of violence between Christians and Muslims during the time of the Fifth Crusade. That meeting forms the inspiration for a musical dialogue in this programme.

Ensemble Constantinople and Holland Baroque fuse cultures and styles. They traverse boundaries between old and new, East and West, improvisation and composition. Constantinople explores distant horizons, while Holland Baroque lends baroque a touch of whimsical freedom. Together they show that interest and creativity go beyond borders, and that music is a universal language of unity and innovation. An appeal to international dialogue and peace.