A grand musical fresco dedicated to peace and human dignity: this is The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, a 1999 composition by Karl Jenkins that has become a symbol of hope and reconciliation. Commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum in London to mark the new millennium, it is dedicated to all the victims of the Kosovo war.

Conceived as a secular mass, the work brings together texts and traditions from around the world: from the Christian liturgy to verses from the Qur’an, from the medieval song L’homme armé to writings by Kipling, Tennyson, and the Japanese poet Sankichi Toge, a survivor of Hiroshima. The result is a composition of great emotional impact, portraying the escalation of war, the horrors of conflict, and ultimately culminating in a message of hope and peace. The music, cosmopolitan in nature, alternates between military marches and moments of reflection and lyricism, conveying a universal message.

Performing the piece is the Orchestra of the Teatro Regio Torino conducted by Nicola Foron, with the choruses of the Waldensian Choir of Turin and the “Corelli” Music Institute of Pinerolo, prepared by Walter Gatti. Soloists: Giulia Bolcato (soprano), Annunziata Vestri (mezzo-soprano), David Astorga (tenor), Stefano Marchisio (bass).

An evening of powerful, universal music that invites reflection on war and the possibility of building a peaceful future: a concert that gives voice to the need for peace and shared human dignity.