The Valerius Student Orchestra, Bataafs Symphony Orchestra, and Haags Toonkunstkoor invite you to celebrate Midsummer on June 21st with a vibrant concert filled with rich and varied music.

Together, we take you on a musical journey through a summer’s day, from the quiet stillness of early morning to a festive evening full of dance.

We begin at dawn, when sunlight gently filters through the curtains and the world is still half-asleep. In this tranquil moment, Eric Whitacre’s Sleep captures the calm before the day begins. But the longest day of the year is calling: so it’s time to rise.

With the first movement of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, we step into the brightness of the morning, as if walking through sunlit dunes accompanied by birdsong. This sense of openness and beauty flows seamlessly into Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, a warm and colorful tribute to the joy of sound.

As the day unfolds, Dvořák’s second movement leads us deeper into nature, from shaded forests to sweeping dune landscapes overlooking the sea. Here, we pause to listen to Balea by Nahia Vicente Elordi, a contemporary work inspired by fishermen, the Bay of Biscay, and the mystery of a whale beneath the surface.

By now, the sun is high and the atmosphere is full of energy. Dvořák’s third movement brings a playful, dance-like spirit, like a waltz in the dunes. And in the lively fourth movement, a festive brass band seems to pass by, bringing the day to a jubilant peak.

As evening approaches, we slow down and unwind with George Gershwin’s Summertime and Someone to Watch Over Me, before ending the day on a high note. One last dance carries us into the night with the timeless rhythm of I Got Rhythm.

A perfect summer’s day brought to life through music.