Reconstruction: anti-American opera on Concertzender

In 1969, the opera caused Reconstruction from Reinbert de Leeuw et al caused a huge uproar because of its anti-American tenor and glorification of Cuban freedom fighter Che Guevarra. Journalist Henk van der Meijden started a smear campaign in daily newspaper The Telegraph, Parliamentary questions were asked, but the production went ahead despite - thanks to ? - all the commotion, and Theatre Carré sold out for six nights. Tonight, from 9 p.m. at the Concertzender the integral second part.

These were turbulent times, the 1960s. Colourful figures such as 'anti-smoker' Robert Jasper Grootveld and Provo Roel van Duijn resisted the establishment with playful actions. Provo's bulletins were printed in composer Peter Schat's basement. In 1966, Schat, together with Reinbert de Leeuw, Louis Andriessen, Misha Mengelberg and Jan van Vlijmen, wrote an open letter to the Concertgebouw Orchestra, which was said to pay too little attention to new music. - That three days earlier they themselves had participated in an avant-garde concert by the venerable ensemble was conveniently not mentioned, as can be read in the biography Reinbert de Leeuw, man or melody. - But this aside.

Blood on Philips and US hands 

'The five' were asked in 1969 to write a joint opera for the Netherlands Opera Foundation, to be premiered at the Holland Festival. Harry Mulisch and Hugo Claus signed for the libretto. This consists of one long, raw indictment of North America, which with its imperialism milked South America, claiming many victims. Big hero was Che Guevara, who courageously resisted the supremacy of the United States - Mulisch and Schat had visited the communist sanctuary state of Cuba together.

The seven-member company retreated to a Trappist monastery in Raalte, where Misha Mengelberg emerged as the louse in the fur. According to him, the Dutch company Philips had at least as much blood on its hands as North America, but despite their differences, the men got the job done. As soon as sensational journalist Henk van der Meijden got wind of the project, he launched an unusually fierce anti-campaign in Daily Telegraph. A friendly nation is insulted with grant money!

Minister Marga Klompé stands firm for the arts

But those were different times, when politicians still stood up for the arts. Minister of Culture, Recreation and Society, Marga Klompé, was not put off by all the fuss and even visited the premiere in person. After the tumultuous performance, the NOS Journaal tried in vain to elicit an opinion from her; she claimed to be dead pleased that seven young artists were given the chance to present their work.

Reconstruction is an amalgam of styles, ranging from cabaret to Mozartian arias and from avant-garde squeaks to contrary jazz and electronic sound explorations. 'The Five' had renounced the symphony orchestra and worked with free-lance musicians, including recorder player Frans Brüggen, saxophonist Willem Breuker and chansonnier Ramses Shaffy. Misha Mengelberg operated the electronics; the four other composers each led their own ad hoc ensemble.

The performance was recorded and released on elpee. The recording is heavily distorted, but gives a good impression of the conviction with which all involved hurled their denunciation of America into the world. Still, you can hear Reconstruction rarely, if ever, on the radio. If anything, it is invariably the harmless 'Mozart operatic'. Last June, in my programme Panorama the Lion on the Concertzender already a substantial part of this 'morality'. I received quite a positive response to this, and by popular demand, I will play the entire second act tonight. Listen and shudder...