This year, with the arrival of John Zorn, Barbara Hannigan, Jennifer Walshe, Rebecca Saunders, Simon-Steen Andersen, Tristan Murail, Oslo Sinfonietta, Jack Quartet and The Crossing, November Music opts for the absolute world's best. In addition, Dutch mid-career makers such as Aart Strootman, Maya Fridman, Rozalie Hirs, Kika Sprangers, Jameszoo and LudoWic will be given the chance to strike out with new, large-scale productions. With seven composition commissions and 100 different concerts, November Music will showcase the 31ste edition see how diverse and vital the latest music is.
November Music 2023 takes place from 1 to 12 November at various locations in 's-Hertogenbosch and opens with Bosch Requiem composed by Aart Strootman based on lyrics by Jan Rot. Ticket sales for November Music 2023 will start on 6 July.
Bosch Requiem 2023
For the seventh time, November Music will have a new requiem composed under the title Bosch Requiem, this time titled Last Words. The libretto are literally the last words of Jan Rot, who died in spring 2022. Aart Strootman composes a comforting reflection on life. The work is performed by Cello Octet Amsterdam, Mallet Collective, bassist Fred Jacobsson and singers Rianne Wilders and Fanny Alofs. Last Words can also be heard at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, De Doelen, SoundsofMusic and TivoliVredenburg.
John Zorn in 's-Hertogenbosch III
For the third time, composer, saxophonist and improviser John Zorn is coming to 's-Hertogenbosch to give a dozen concerts with his musical friends - among them Barbara Hannigan, Jack Quartet, Julian Lage, Bill Frisell, John Medewksi - with mostly new work. Because of his versatility and enthusiasm, Zorn is the perfect match for November Music. The two-day event will conclude with a concert by singer Barbara Hannigan with John Zorn playing the organ of the Grote Kerk. In addition, the New Masada Quartet can be heard in the Netherlands for the first time.
Artist-in-Residence Maya Fridman
Dutch/Russian cellist Maya Fridman is this year's artist-in-residence with several concerts spread throughout the festival. One of the highlights will be the collaboration with viola player Garth Knox with whom she will play the John Zorn-composed Book of Angels will perform. Also on the programme is new work with choreographer Dunja Jocic and LudoWic. Under the title Rituals Maya puts together a spiritual programme with choir Capella Brabant, violinist Merel Vercammen and instruments developed and built by Aart Strootman himself and played by students of the AMPA course in Tilburg.
International top
November Music is proud to present large-scale works by two of the most important female composers, Irish creator/performer Jennifer Walshe and English/German composer Rebecca Saunders, performed by Oslo Sinfonietta. With Simon Steen-Andersen and Christian Winther Christensen, two of Denmark's most idiosyncratic composers are present. For the first time, the American choir The Crossing (winner of three Grammy Awards!) is present in the new musical theatre production Sin-Eater by composer David T. Little and director Jorinde Keesmaat with the Ragazze Quartet. The German Ensemble Ascolta will also be heard for the first time at November Music, including new work by Rozalie Hirs. A portrait concert by The Collective features the work of French spectralist Tristan Murail in the presence of the composer.
Focus on mid-career Makers
November Music 2023 provides a stage for a host of Dutch mid-career makers, musicians and ensembles including Aurelie Lierman, Dyane Donck, Christiaan Richter, Sander Germanus, Vincent van Amsterdam, Joe Puglia and Stef Veldhuis. The closing concert will feature, for the first time, the Mikroskosmos Fuse's project to be heard.
Of course, there is also ample attention to new and young talent including Celia Swart, Saskia Venegas, Amarante Nat, Aftab Darvishi, Bianca Bongers, Gemma Bosch and Luke Deane. Of the more established names, work by Richard Rijnvos, David Dramm, Martijn Padding, Jan van de Putte, Jo Sporck and from outside the Netherlands Philip Venables, Christopher Trapani, Øyvind Torvund and Jürg Frey, among others, will be heard. And, of course, work by the Flemish composer Wim Henderickx, who recently died far too early, can be heard.
Jazz, World & Pop
November Music again seeks breadth with music from all corners of the world. These include concerts by Iranian singer Mahsa Vadat with Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Slovenian/Canadian ud player Gordon Grdina, French/Syrian flautist Naïssam Jalal and Norwegian accordionist Frode Haltli and his eleven-member group Avant Folk. The combination of acoustic-electric music is at the heart of special projects by Dutch electronic pioneers and producers Jameszoo and LudoWic. The latter performs with chamber choir PA'dam, while Jameszoo collaborates with Asko|Schönberg and Slagwerk Den Haag. There is also a composition commission for saxophonist Kika Sprangers. She will create new work for her Large Ensemble and 'special guest' harpist Remy van Kesteren. With Sungazer, one of the most innovative and hip acts of the moment comes to the festival. They were one of the discoveries at this year's Transition Festival.
FAQ
For the third time, the three-day electronic music festival takes place during November Music with once again a broad palette of electronic sounds.
Vibrating Air Price
On Thursday 2 November, a programme will be curated around the winner of the Vibrating Air prize meLê Yamomo focusing on the current topic.
Education
True to tradition, November Music presents an extensive educational programme for various target groups such as children, amateurs, music students and professionals, featuring such renowned musicians as Claron McFadden, Maya Fridman, Andreas Borregaard, LudoWic and the ensembles VONK and But What About. After last year's great success, there will again be a programme for toddlers up to two years old.
New Music Conference
On Thursday 9 November takes place for the fifth time the New Music Conference take place in cooperation with BUMA Culture.
November Music is the festival for all adventurous music lovers. Every year, it brings together the most idiosyncratic and progressive creators and musicians from all over the world. Not with the flow or against it, but with new, own currents. It is precisely by giving a place to all these different sounds that November Music allows a personal and individual story to be heard, just as the makers themselves do.
Experience modern composed music, jazz, world music, musical theatre, pop, installations and genres you never thought possible yourself. November Music creates encounters and challenges creators to jump into the deep end.
From 2021, November Music will be part of the national cultural basic infrastructure, known as the BIS. For more information, visit www.novembermusic.net.
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