Cathedral of Our Lady hosts Duruflé Requiem on 30 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 01:12 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp hosts the Duruflé Requiem on 30 October 2026.
- The concert brings the Polyfoon choir, soloists and organist Peter Van de Velde to the cathedral at 8.30pm on 30 October 2026.
- The Gothic cathedral was built from 1352, while its northern tower was completed in 1518 and the church became Antwerp Cathedral in 1559.
- The concert takes place at Handschoenmarkt in Antwerp, where the cathedral stands within a building complex restored in stages between 1973 and 2014.
The Cathedral of Our Lady hosts the Duruflé Requiem in Antwerp on 30 October 2026, bringing Polyfoon, soloists and organist Peter Van de Velde to the Gothic church. The concert is part of the cathedral programme for autumn 2026 and places a contemporary performance within a building whose construction began in 1352.
The local name is not used here because the cathedral name is already firmly established in English for international visitors.
Duruflé Requiem comes to Antwerp Cathedral on 30 October
The performance begins at 8.30pm on Friday 30 October 2026. The cathedral programme identifies the work as Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, Op. 9, and names the Polyfoon choir, soloists and cathedral organist Peter Van de Velde as the performers. The date and venue are also listed by the concert organiser, Polyfoon concert listings.
The concert is presented as part of music connected with All Souls season. The wider programme described by the organiser includes the Duruflé work alongside additional choral and organ music, including pieces by Jean Richafort, William Harris, Herbert Howells, Edward Elgar and James Whitbourn. The cathedral page confirms the core programme and lists tickets through the Polyfoon choir.
The event gives visitors a fixed evening programme at the cathedral rather than a regular service or daily concert. It also connects the building’s two musical identities: the religious setting and the permanent concert activity centred on its Schyven and Metzler organs.
Antwerp Cathedral links the concert to a long building history
Construction of the Gothic church began in 1352, according to the Antwerp Church Heritage account of the building. The northern tower was completed in 1518, while the church became the cathedral of the Antwerp diocese in 1559. The history is set out in the cathedral construction history.
The unfinished southern tower remains one of the building’s defining features. Its incomplete state reflects the changing plans for a much larger extension, followed by the fire of 1533, which halted the ambitious project. That contrast makes the Duruflé Requiem especially tied to the site: a twentieth-century sacred composition will sound inside a church shaped by several centuries of construction, alteration and restoration.
Restoration took place in three major stages from 1973 to 2014, covering the nave, choir, transepts, ambulatory and chapels. The building therefore combines medieval structure with later interventions, while its interior continues to serve both worship and scheduled music.
Visiting Cathedral of Our Lady: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Duruflé Requiem takes place on 30 October 2026 at the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp, with the performance scheduled for 8.30pm.
- The concert is held inside the cathedral at Handschoenmarkt. Tickets are listed through the Polyfoon choir, while the cathedral programme identifies the performers and venue.
- The cathedral stands in Antwerp’s historic centre, with the address listed as Handschoenmarkt, 2000 Antwerp. The nearby Groenplaats is another address associated with the building.
- The interior is unusually broad, with seven aisles documented in the building history. Visitors should therefore expect a large church interior with multiple chapels, transepts and a choir rather than a compact concert hall.
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Frequently asked questions about Cathedral of Our Lady
When does the Duruflé Requiem take place at Cathedral of Our Lady?
The concert takes place on 30 October 2026 at 8.30pm. Polyfoon, soloists and organist Peter Van de Velde are listed for the performance.
What is Cathedral of Our Lady?
It is a Gothic cathedral in Antwerp whose construction began in 1352. Its northern tower was completed in 1518, and the church became a cathedral in 1559.
Where is Cathedral of Our Lady and how do you get there?
The cathedral is at Handschoenmarkt in central Antwerp, Belgium. The building is also associated with the nearby Groenplaats.
