Monthly Archives: May 2021

The dark night has vanished: songs by Josephine Lang taste for more

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Thea Derks

Already at the age of 16, the German composer Josephine Lang (1815-1880) published two collections of songs; eventually she would write over 300. Although she was very successful in her own time, rivalling such established song composers as Schubert and … Continue reading →

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Sam Adams’ take on Concerto grosso premieres in Concertgebouw: Movements (for us and them)

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Thea Derks

For the season 2020-2021 Samuel Adams was booked as composer in residence of The Concertgebouw. Both his residency in Amsterdam and the new orchestral work he was to compose for NTRZaterdagMatinee fell prey to Covid-19 however. On Saturday 22 May the … Continue reading →

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Thomas Larcher: ‘Each composition is an excavation from my past’

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Thea Derks

On Saturday 22 May, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, principal conductor Karina Canellakis and pianist Kirill Gerstein will premiere the new Piano Concerto by Austrian composer Thomas Larcher in NTRZaterdagMatinee. – Unfortunately still no audience is allowed in Main Hall The … Continue reading →

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Sally Beamish: ‘My first language was music’

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Thea Derks

In April 2021 the double concerto Distans by Sally Beamish was scheduled to be premiered by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, but the concert was postponed due to corona*. She composed it for the Dutch violinist Janine Jansen and the Swedish … Continue reading →

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Chaya Czernowin: smoldering emotions under chill surface in opera Heart Chamber

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Thea Derks

A woman and a man seated at considerable distance from each other stare into space, silent and blank. The image immediately brings to mind the absurdist plays of Samuel Beckett, but Heart Chamber deals with the very recognizable uncertainties of … Continue reading →

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