The Dutch Wind Ensemble's (NBE) traditional New Year's concert at The Concertgebouw on Friday 1 January 2021 is going to look completely different from all previous editions. Because it is currently unclear whether, or how many, visitors The Concertgebouw is allowed to admit because of RIVM measures, the difficult decision has been taken to play the New Year's concert entirely without an audience. BNNVARA will, of course, broadcast the special concert on 1 January at 19:00 on NPO1.
A major setback for both the NBE and its loyal audiences, but flexible and inventive as the NBE is, it immediately turned this huge disappointment into a unique opportunity: without an audience, the wind players can deviate from the standard line-up for a concert in The Concertgebouw with their New Year's concert. There are opportunities that never existed before: the wind players are going to eagerly seize them to present the unparalleled, unique and out of thousands recognisable NBE sounds in a new way. For the first time in the history of The Concertgebouw and the NBE, the New Year's Concert will take place not only on stage, but also in the auditorium and in spaces in front of and behind the scenes.
All these exciting locations, each with their own character and atmosphere, form the surprising backdrop during the concert, giving viewers a whole new and special experience.
BNNVARA will record this exceptional spectacle and broadcast the New Year's Concert on 1 January at 7pm on NPO 1. That evening's programme will remain a surprise until just before the broadcast, but the NBE will live up to its reputation as groundbreaking, original and connecting more than ever before.
What is already fixed are the performances together with the NBE of the winners of the composition competition for young talent.
The theme this year is "Get up!", the winners of the preliminary round concerts are now preparing for the semi-finals at the end of November, followed by the finals in December. The NBE website features all performances by the winners of the preliminary round concerts: nbe.co.uk/news
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