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MUSIC

Oud of nieuw, klassiek of modern, minimaal of wereld. Pop. Tonaal en atonaal.

National Ballet performs enchanting Tempest

by Thea Derks
18 June 201430 March 2022
4 min read
ACTUAL, For members only, DANS, MUSIC

To make it 450^e birth anniversary of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Krzysztof Pastor created a full-length choreography for the National Ballet, loosely based on The Tempest (1611). The performance is part of the Holland Festival. Dramaturge Willem Bruls adapted Shakespeare's last play about the island exiled prince Prospero and his daughter Miranda into a script in which the story is told four times, from as many perspectives. The result is enchanting.

Zinging: Delusion of the Fury by Harry Partch

by Thea Derks
11 June 201411 July 2016
5 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

Jubilation and cheers echoed last night in the sold-out Great Hall of the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ after the Dutch premiere of Delusion of the Fury of Harry Partch at the Holland Festival. No wonder, as the performance directed by Heiner Goebbels was titillating and the performance by the - conductorless - MusikFabrik perfect.

Requiem for the Red Box

by Thea Derks
27 May 201430 March 2022
6 min read
For members only, MUSIC

After seven concert seasons, the broadcasting series takes 'The Friday of Vredenburg' farewell to emergency venue Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn, better known as 'The Red Box'. From September, the concerts will again take place in the restored Great Hall of the otherwise brand-new TivoliVredenburg. The concert on 6 June will feature the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Groot Omroepkoor, conducted by Antony Hermus. They will play music by Beethoven, Richard Strauss and a brand new piece by Wim Laman, Requiem Songs.

From packaging for fish to opera: JacobTV's The News

by Thea Derks
20 May 201430 March 2022
3 min read
For members only, MUSIC, OPERA

The news: today it is hot, tomorrow the fish will be wrapped in it. In his video opera The News gives Jacob ter Veldhuis/JacobTV it a second life by putting it in a new context. 'These days, news is infotainment, dipped in sentiment.' Next Friday, the Dutch Travel Opera the premiere at the Wilminkteather in Enschede.

Faust: eye- and ear-pleasing, but distant

by Thea Derks
16 May 201411 July 2016
4 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

In Catholic Limburg, I was taught catechism every week in primary school. "What are we here on earth for?", asked Mr pastor. With the whole class we droned out the answer: "To become happy here and in the hereafter." A similar question occurred to me last night during the performance of the opera Faust by Charles Gounod at The National Opera. "To what end do we go to the theatre?" For me, the answer is: "To be touched, purified, yes maybe even happy." Given the rave reviews, I expected that this would indeed be the case.

Brotherhood in turbulent times

by Thea Derks
7 May 201411 July 2016
3 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

In 2001, when Rotterdam was European Capital of Culture, a number of institutions joined forces and from this, in 2005, the Rotterdam Opera Days born. The aim is to programme innovative musical theatre in the opera house-less Maasstad after all, often in unusual locations. This year the ninth edition will take place, from 17 to 25 May, with the theme 'brotherhood'.

Ironing or hitting

by Thea Derks
2 May 201429 March 2022
3 min read
ACTUAL, For members only, MUSIC

It will be hard to choose how we will musically fill our next weekend: will we stay in Amsterdam for the Amsterdam Marimba Weekend, or do we travel to The Hague, where Day in the Branding is devoted entirely to the string quartet? In short: are we going to string or strike? Those unable to choose can visit later this month at Amsterdam Sinfonietta and Slagwerk Den Haag - they just both do it!

Concertzender fights for his life again

by Thea Derks
18 April 201411 July 2016
5 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

For the umpteenth time in its more than 30 years of existence, the colourful Concertzender going down. That is why there will be a benefit concert at the Amstelkerk in Amsterdam. Greats like Liza Ferschtman, Yuri Honing, Erik Bosgraaf and the Ragazze Quartet will perform for free, to support the station that broadcasts so many live recordings of their concerts. I myself started my career as a radio producer there in 1995, so I would say: come all, and donate generous! For less than two tonnes a year, the station will stay on air.

Biography Reinbert de Leeuw released today

by Thea Derks
14 March 201430 March 2022
3 min read
For members only, MUSIC, PODIUM ART, APPRECIATE & DONATE!

Today, Leporello Publishers in Amstelveen published my long-awaited biography Reinbert de Leeuw: man or melody, on which I worked for more than seven years. The book is on sale at several bookstores in Amsterdam and can be ordered through any bookstore in the Netherlands. When I attended a concert conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw in early 2005, I discussed with some...

Peter Eötvös writes DoReMi for violinist Midori

by Thea Derks
12 February 201411 July 2016
5 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

For years he was a conductor who also composed, but after operas such as Le balcon and Angels in America Hungarian Peter Eötvös (1944) is now a composer who also conducts. On Friday 21 February, he leads the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn in the Dutch premiere of his Violin Concerto No 2, DoReMi, which he composed in 2012 for Japanese violinist Midori. - I spoke to him last week.

World premiere of deceased Ten Holt

by Thea Derks
7 February 20143 July 2019
6 min read
MUSIC

Tonight, Feb 14 honours the North Netherlands Orchestra at the Oosterpoort in Groningen Simeon ten Holt, who died in 2012, with the world premiere of his orchestral work Centri-fuga, which he completed in 1979. It has never been performed to this day and will be christened tonight by conductor David Porcelijn. After the interval, Ten Holt's magnum opus will also be heard Canto ostinato for four pianos, performed by Sandra and Jeroen van Veen, Fred Oldenburg and Irene Russo. Earlier this week, other pianists also performed it at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.

Reinbert de Leeuw defies limits of orchestra in Saturday Matinee

by Thea Derks
28 January 201411 July 2016
4 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

Reinbert de Leeuw turned seventy-five last September, but already in May the VPRO honoured him with three full-length broadcasts on Radio 4. Together with Aad van Nieuwkerk, I made a selection from his finest recordings of Kagel, Ustvolskaya and Louis Andriessen, among others, about which I also let him speak. This was followed in September by a real Reinbert festival and his own magazine. The magazine not only highlighted him...

New music wins at opening Storioni Festival

by Thea Derks
18 January 201411 July 2016
3 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

With a spot-on performance of Mendelssohn's Second Piano Trio, the Storioni Trio concluded last night's opening concert of the Storioni Festival at the Frits Philipszaal in Eindhoven. Spread across six different venues in five cities in Brabant, they will present an ambitious programme, featuring befriended musicians and composers.

Toonkunst Choir not afraid of Peasant Wedding Stravinsky

by Thea Derks
13 December 201311 July 2016
3 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

Toonkunstkoor Amsterdam has had a name to live up to since its establishment in 1829. In earlier times, it was invariably on hand when the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Willem Mengelberg performed large-scale choral works. Although the choir still consists of amateurs and its ties with the illustrious orchestra have weakened, it still puts (very) demanding pieces on its desks. For instance, the...

Einojuhani Rautavaara makes flute dance on the wind

by Thea Derks
22 November 201329 March 2022
2 min read
For members only, MUSIC

Tonight at Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra plays the Flute Concerto Dances with the Winds by Einojuhani Rautavaara. Originally Peter Schat's Spring Concert was scheduled, but soloist Jacques Zoon chose to swap it for the Finnish composer's piece.

Tristan und Isolde at Reisopera, something special happens here

by Henri Drost
23 September 201311 July 2016
4 min read
MUSIC, OPERA

A Brünhilde who does not burst into flames but endures the Götterdämmerung with a baby in her arms, a Senta who does not jump off a cliff but is shot by Erik together with the Holländer. No one really looks surprised anymore. And Isoldes who do not die in the Liebestod are no exception, but Tristan who rises from the dead, as it were, by Isolde's notes reaching into heaven, stands diagonally behind her and sings along soundlessly?

Read More "Tristan und Isolde at Reisopera, something special happens here

Tristan und Isolde is the ultimate declaration of love

by Henri Drost
18 September 201311 July 2016
6 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC, OPERA

"That sounds different. A bit sad."

I just played F, B, D♯ and G♯. Better known as the Tristan chord. But on guitar. My audience consists of 15 toddlers.

Read More "Tristan und Isolde is the ultimate declaration of love

Yannick Nézet-Séguin turns Rotterdam Doelen into a swirling sea of sound

by Henri Drost
15 September 201311 July 2016
4 min read
MUSIC, OPERA

In a letter to Franz Liszt in 1852, Wagner stressed that in his Der fliegende Holländer should be shown as realistically as possible, full of violent waves. One hundred and sixty years later, Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes that advice very much to heart in port city Rotterdam. Nothing about this Holländer ripples, from the first notes it storms, culminating in a third act at hurricane force, with a leading role for the Netherlands Opera choir.

Read More "Yannick Nézet-Séguin turns Rotterdam Doelen into a swirling sea of sound

Twelve-tone horror at KCO

by Thea Derks
12 September 201330 March 2022
3 min read
ACTUAL, For members only, FILM, MUSIC

Tonight and tomorrow night, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra kicks off the fourth season of the AAA series, with film music under the title 'Suspense'. But not everyone will immediately associate composers like Bartók, Lutyens and Schoenberg with cinema.

A century of new music: Ruyneman and De Leeuw

by Thea Derks
7 September 201330 March 2022
4 min read
For members only, MUSIC

This month, Reinbert de Leeuw celebrates his seventy-fifth birthday. Not only do television, radio, internet media and written press devote extensive attention to the no small achievements of this champion of contemporary music, but he is also being honoured with his own festival, 'Reinbert 75'. This will be organised

NJO honours Steve Reich

by Thea Derks
12 August 20138 July 2016
3 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC

Ever since the establishment of the NJO Summer Academy in 2001, one composer takes centre stage every year, in the current edition it is Steve Reich (1936). During the NJO Music Summer, two hundred music students from fifteen countries will play a good number of compositions by the American grandmaster.

Taking young talent into Europe: what the Reisopera and Ajax have in common

by Henri Drost
11 July 20138 July 2016
4 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC, OPERA

Still competing at the top and successfully entering Europe with sixty per cent less budget. Impossible, cries many. Only with a new stadium, argues another. And with extra investments in the winter break. But it can be done, according to one and all.

Read More "Taking young talent into Europe: what the Reisopera and Ajax have in common

Dutch Symphony Orchestra loses lawsuit and name

by Henri Drost
26 June 20138 July 2016
4 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC, OPERA

We already wrote about the name change of the Orchestra of the East into the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra (NedSym). The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (NedPho) was not amused and felt that the Enschede-based orchestra was infringing its trademark and trademark rights and demanded that the orchestra choose a different name. Summary proceedings followed and in April 2012 the court ruled that the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra could only not use the abbreviation NedSO, but did not have to change its name.

Katibu di Shon, the first Curaçao opera ánd a universal story

by Henri Drost
25 June 201330 March 2022
4 min read
ACTUAL, For members only, MUSIC, OPERA

His great-great-grandfather wrote the first poem in Papiamento, winning a bet. Randal Corsen wrote the music for the first Curaçao opera. "It's a small island," laughs the composer, but then, moved: "Baffling to think how short a time this all took."

Read More "Katibu di Shon, the first Curaçao opera ánd a universal story

Franui provides the most fun Mahler evening in years at @HollandFestival

by Henri Drost
23 June 20138 July 2016
2 min read
Holland Festival, MUSIC, OPERA, SPECIALS

Holland Festival

What to expect from a 'musicabanda' from East Tyrol? Gemütliche folk music? Yodelling? Dance music for weddings and parties? An evening in a beer pub? Either way: definitely not Mahler. But why not, thought the Franui from the village of Innervillgraten. Result: an enervating performance around orchestral songs. We have never heard Mahler like this before.

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