Lessons in Love and Violence: glowing music fails to spark icy drama at @hollandfestival

by Thea Derks
28 June 201830 March 2022
4 min read
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‘Liefde is vergif’ zingzegt Mortimer in de eerste scène van Lessons in Love and Violence tegen de koning. De militair adviseur hekelt diens relatie met Gaveston, die hij overlaadt met gunsten terwijl zijn onderdanen honger lijden. ‘Don’t bore me with the price of bread’ riposteert de koning. Liever trakteert hij zijn minnaar op poëzie en muziek dan zich te bekommeren om zijn volk. ‘Liefde maakt ons menselijk.'
In deze derde opera van componist George Benjamin en librettist Martin Crimp ontbreekt...

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Thea Derks

Thea Derks studied English and Musicology. In 1996, she completed her studies in musicology cum laude at the University of Amsterdam. She specialises in contemporary music and in 2014 published the critically acclaimed biography 'Reinbert de Leeuw: man or melody'. Four years on, she completed 'An ox on the roof: modern music in vogevlucht', aimed especially at the interested layperson. You buy it here: https://www.boekenbestellen.nl/boek/een-os-op-het-dak/9789012345675 In 2020, the 3rd edition of the Reinbertbio appeared,with 2 additional chapters describing the period 2014-2020. These also appeared separately as Final Chord.View Author posts

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Thea Derks

Thea Derks studied English and Musicology. In 1996, she completed her studies in musicology cum laude at the University of Amsterdam. She specialises in contemporary music and published the critically acclaimed biography 'Reinbert de Leeuw: man or melody' in 2014.
Four years on, she completed 'An ox on the roof: modern music in vogevlucht', aimed especially at the interested layperson. You buy it here: https://www.boekenbestellen.nl/boek/een-os-op-het-dak/9789012345675
In 2020, the 3rd edition of the Reinbertbio appeared,with 2 additional chapters describing the period 2014-2020. These also appeared separately as Final Agreement.

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Welcome to the Culture Press archive! As a member, you have access to all, over 4,000 posts we have made since our inception in 2009!

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