With a large number of composition commissions and some 100 concerts, the 32nd edition of November Music shows how diverse and vital cutting-edge music is. November Music 2024 will take place from 8 to 17 November at various locations in 's-Hertogenbosch.
Two top Dutch orchestras, Concertgebouw Orchestra and Radio Philharmonic Orchestra are coming to the festival for the first time, and there are concerts by top international performers such as Ensemble Modern, Alva Noto and Dave Holland. With new works and performances by Elisabeth Hetherington, Arooj Aftab, Barbara Hannigan, Mayke Nas, No Plexus, Dyane Donck, Saskia Venegas, Kate Moore, Ann Cleare, Liza Lim, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and Laura Bowler This year, November Music puts the focus on female creators and performers. Bosch Requiem 2024 is composed by Micha Hamel in collaboration with visual artist and Prix de Rome winner Jonas Staal.
Bosch Requiem 2024
For the eighth time, November Music will have a new requiem composed. This time in the form of an installation by composer Micha Hamel and artist Jonas Staal (winner Prix de Rome 2023). Earth Workers Requiem/Jubilate commemorates (Requiem) and celebrates (Jubilate) our collective history and future as earthworkers at a critical time for our current ecosystem. Bosch Requiem 2024 is realised in collaboration with The North Brabant Museum and will be on display there until 9 March 2025. There will be live performances every day during the festival.
Concertgebouw Orchestra and Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
For the first time, the Concertgebouw Orchestra led by conductor and composer Matthias Pintscher is coming to November Music. The beautiful new building and large hall of Theater aan de Parade offers opportunities to programme large orchestras. In cooperation with the Cello Biennale, a programme of new music has been put together, including a new work by Liza Lim with cellist Nicholas Altstaedt as soloist. Also for the first time - in collaboration with the Saturday Matinee - the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra is a guest with works by Joey Roukens, John Adams and others.
Artist-in-Residence Elisabeth Hetherington
Dutch/Canadian singer Elisabeth Hetherington will be artist-in-residence in 2024 with several concerts spread throughout the festival highlighting her versatility. Renowned for her interpretations of early and new music, Elisabeth is always looking for new opportunities for expression and collaborations. She performs with, among others, Orkest De Ereprijs, DoelenEnsemble, Silbersee and in a dance-music production by LeineRoebana about the feminine in art.
Focus on female creators and composers
November Music 2024 presents a large number of female creators and composers from various generations. Fortunately, their share at festivals and stages is increasing. For instance, former Composer of the Fatherland Mayke Nas is composing new work for Germany's world-renowned Ensemble Modern, and young composer Saskia Venegas gets the chance to write for the two top Flemish ensembles Spectra and I Solisti del Vento in a programme featuring only female composers. Amsterdam Sinfonietta plays new work by Azerbaijani composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh. In collaboration with the festivals Gaudemus and Rewire, No Plexus presents its latest work.
International summit and Sounds Now
As every year, November Music again invites a number of top international ensembles and musicians such as Ensemble Modern (D) with the Dutch premiere of recent works by electronics giant Alva Noto and Georg Friedrich Haas, one of today's most important composers who will also be present at the concert. Also as guests are Crash Ensemble from Ireland, Decoder Ensemble from Germany and Diotima Quartet from France. German composer Enno Poppe has been commissioned by NM and several other European festivals to compose works for 10 percussionists. The Flemish Nadar Ensemble comes to NM for the first time with the spectacular music-theatrical work Hide To Show By German composer Michael Beil.
Under the European Sounds Now programme, which focuses on the diversity of new music, this year features nine international productions with works by Laura Bowler, Ann Cleare, Wim Henderickx, Frederic Croene and others.
Dutch creators, composers and ensembles
As every year, the top of the Dutch music scene is present at the festival with concerts by Asko|Schönberg and Klang (with Louis Andriessen's masterpiece The State), Ralph van Raat, Cello Octet Amsterdam, Cappella Amsterdam, De Ereprijs and the duo Erik Bosgraaf and Jorrit Tamminga. New works by renowned Dutch composers such as Rob Zuidam, Florian Maier, Peter Vigh, Jan-Peter de Graaff and Aart Strootman and young talents such as Aura Bouw, Celia Swart, Sylvie Klijn and Bram Kortekaas will be heard.
Jazz, World & Pop
November Music again seeks breadth with music from all corners of the world. In collaboration with the Flamenco Biennale, Spanish pianist Daniel Garcia Diego has put together a new sextet with musicians from Spain and the Netherlands. American electro-jazz producer MAST will perform his recent album Battle Hymns of the Republic perform live with English drummer Betamax (known from The Comet is Coming) and several Dutch musicians including members of North Sea String Quartet. There is a Swiss focus with the groups of Lucia Cadotsch and Julie Campiche. The highlight is the concert by bassist Dave Holland with his wonderful Crosscurrents trio with Chris Potter and Zakir Hussain.
FAQ Festival
For the fourth time, this festival takes place during November Music with a broad palette of electronic sounds including Faust, Xui Xui, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Colleen, Mette Rasmussen & Victoria Shen and Truus de Groot. The four-day edition will close with a concert by Alva Noto together with Ensemble Modern.
Education and participation
Every year, NM continues to expand its education and participation programme for children, students and (young) adults. The two Sundays feature a diverse programme including the latest children's performance by the Cello Octet and the third edition of Compose It where children learn to compose themselves. Midweek there is a wide range of workshops, master classes and expert meetings with creators and musicians active at the festival such as Elisabeth Hetherington, Klang and Enno Poppe. At Experience Primary school classes write a new piece of music together with a composer and musicians. They will then visit the festival for a special school concert. Composer of the Fatherland Anne-Maartje Lemereis lets adults compose from her motto Anyone can compose.
New Music Conference
Thursday 14 November will see the sixth New Music Conference take place in collaboration with BUMA Culture.
About November Music
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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