Project Parallel Truths

Parallel Truths is a powerful concert experience where two opposing worlds – two conflicting truths – are brought together through music and film.

The project shines a light on propaganda and the dangers of false or one-sided information. Its goal is not only to show and tell, but above all to make audiences feel why it is so important to look at stories and news from every perspective. In today’s world of nonstop social media feeds and growing polarization, this message could not be more urgent.

At the heart of Parallel Truths lies a striking contrast:

Film fragments from Leni Riefenstahl’s infamous Triumph of the Will (1935), a masterpiece of manipulation that glorified the Nazi regime and prepared the masses for “Total War.”
Music that gives voice to the victims of dictatorship: the String Quartet No. 3 by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, a Jewish composer who fled the Nazis, and the String Quartet No. 8 by Dmitri Shostakovich, who lived under Stalin’s crushing propaganda machine. Both composers turned their suffering into music of haunting beauty and resilience.

Each concert begins with a short film introduction, drawing parallels between the propaganda of the past and the challenges of today. The combination of brilliant but shocking imagery and deeply emotional music creates an unforgettable experience of confrontation and reflection. Our aim is not to discredit Leni Riefenstahl, but rather to use the grandeur and aesthetic power of her revolutionary imagery as a powerful contrast to achieve our goal: encouraging people to reflect on what they see and read.

Alma Quartet
The works are performed by the world-renowned Alma Quartet – Marc Daniel van Biemen, Benjamin Peled, Jeroen Woudstra, and Joris van den Berg – all members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO).

Special Edition Newspaper
Audience members will also receive a special printed publication with insights and essays from leading voices in politics, literature, and music, adding depth to this unique project.

With Parallel Truths, history and art merge into an experience that resonates far beyond the concert hall.