Les Plaies du Monde is a striking composition by Sylvia Maessen, set to the poignant lyrics of Rutebeuf, a 13th-century French poet. The piece, composed in 2021, intertwines the medieval sorrowful tone of Rutebeuf’s words with Maessen’s contemporary musical voice. Performed by soprano Irene Maessen and harpsichordist Hugo Bakker, this work brings to life the profound emotional weight of the text, which reflects on the wounds of the world. The harpsichord adds a unique texture, enhancing the introspective and melancholic atmosphere of the piece, while Irene Maessen’s soprano voice carries the lamentation of the words with haunting beauty.