With a focus on the Dutch music scene, November Music showcases a lot of new homegrown work at this 28th festival edition. There are also several concerts with leading roles for renowned foreign names. November Music 2020 takes place from 6 to 15 November at various locations in 's-Hertogenbosch with over 80 different concerts and 45 world premieres.
This year, November Music awards 10 commissions to Dutch and two to foreign composers, including a choral work for Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Traditionally, November Music opens with the Bosch Requiem on Friday 6 November, which of course takes on an extra charge this year. Korean-Dutch composer Seung-Won Oh draws inspiration from the YeonDo death ritual that links Korean funeral traditions with the Catholic faith. After Kate Moore and Calliope Tsoupaki, she is the third female composer of the Bosch Requiem in a row.
National & international
This year, more than ever, November Music aims to provide a stage for the Dutch music scene. With ensembles such as Asko|Schőnberg, Ragazze Quartet, Cello Octet, Cappella Amsterdam, SDH, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Fuse and soloists such as Dominique Vleeshouwers, Diamanda Dramm, Hannes Minnaar, Tomoko Mukaiyama, Harmen Fraanje, Kika Sprangers and Joe Puglia, audiences can enjoy top-quality home-grown music.
Once again, November Music welcomes one of the top international new music ensembles. Musikfabrik from Kőln will perform two world premieres by Enno Poppe and a November Music commissioned work by Richard Rijnvos in a large line-up. Other world-renowned international artists include trumpeter Dave Douglas with a new project (only concert in the Netherlands) and rising star guitarist Julian Lage with his trio. But the most striking concert is undoubtedly that of pianist Brad Mehldau, who will give two long solo concerts of 1.5 hours in the beautiful ambiance and acoustics of the Jheronimus Bosch Art Center.
Festival composer Kaija Saariaho
World-renowned Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho is this year's festival composer. Besides the new commissioned work - a collaboration with the Donaueschinger Musiktage in Germany - a wide range of her works can be heard on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November, performed by specialists such as the New European Ensemble, string quartet Meta4 and kantale player Eija Kankaanranta. New European Ensemble is ensemble-in-residence this year with a trio of varied programmes including a performance with writer P.F. Thomése and music by composer Martijn Padding.
Female voices
For the first time, the festival features more work by female than male creators. The proportion of female performers is also higher than other years. November Music aims for more diversity within new music including an equal male-female ratio as agreed in the Keychange programme.
The female voice holds a special place at this year's festival. British soprano and artist-in-residence Juliet Fraser will show and hear in a trio of concerts how virtuosic, but at the same time how human and down-to-earth new music can be. Other unique voices include Sarah Maria Sun, Maarja Nuut, Aino Peltomaa, Rima Khcheich, Naomi Beeldens and from the Netherlands Claron McFadden, Eefje de Visser, Helena Rasker and young talents such as Pitou, Sanne Rambags and Rianne Wilbers.
Good to knowExperience modern composed music, jazz, world music, music theatre, installations and genres you would not have thought possible yourself. November Music creates encounters and challenges creators to jump into the deep end.The festival gives space to big names, but also to the smallest trials. Expect the unexpected.
From 2021, November Music will be part of the national basic cultural infrastructure, known as the BIS.
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Français 
