Thomas Quasthoff and former BBC New Generation Artists the Amatis Trio present a morning of words and music, exploring the topic of war and its consequences for humanity.

History often reduces war to a collection of statistics. One forgets that behind every number, there is a person who is someone’s child, parent, spouse or lover.

During the First World War, pen and paper was all that many had to connect them with their far away loved ones. Based on these letters, of which an unbelievable 30 billion pieces were sent on the German side alone, Quasthoff and the Amatis Trio illustrate the humanity and personal struggle of those individuals behind the statistics.

These letters and diaries, paired with selected Romantic and modern music, reveal the greatest aspects of our shared humanity. They show that interpersonal tolerance, dignity and appreciation even among opponents are – and must be – essential cornerstones of our community.

This concert will be featured on BBC Radio 3 on 17 August.