In Terra Pax by Martin, Aπό (2024/2024), αγωγός Michael Reif, Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany

The Second World War was not quite over yet when Frank Martin began writing music for peace with "In terra pax". For him it was an attempt to "express the transition from deepest despair to hope for a bright future" while fighting was still going on outside. "Peace on Earth" is the title of the short oratorio, which is about liberation and hope, forgiveness and love, and the vision of a new earth that no longer knows suffering and tears. Although Martin's appeal for peace was written for a specific occasion - "In terra pax" was premiered in Geneva on May 7, 1945 to mark the end of the war - the message has lost none of its validity to this day. "The complexity of war and peace is eternal; military wars are not the only ones," wrote the Swiss composer about his work, "and is not peace a constant longing of our souls?"