Monthly Archives: December 2021

Soprano Elise Caluwaerts: ‘The songs of Alma Mahler are grand, intense and compelling’

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Thea Derks

Elise Caluwaerts not only smoothly sings the most acrobatic coloraturas, but also impresses in pieces of which the ink is still wet. Together with Marianna Shirinyan she has recorded all of Alma Mahler‘s songs for CD – on Alma’s own … Continue reading →

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Ig Henneman – tireless improviser and composer

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Thea Derks

On 21 December Ig Henneman (1945) celebrates her 76th birthday. In September 2021 the adventurous vio(lin)ist, improviser, composer and feminist was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau for her contribution to the rich Dutch musical life. She still tirelessly … Continue reading →

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Alexander von Zemlinsky – Der Zwerg: opera about our failure to respect the Other

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Thea Derks

The National Opera opened the new season 2021-22 on 4 September with Alexander von Zemlinsky’s little-performed opera Der Zwerg (The Dwarf) from 1922. The libretto is based on the short story The Birthday of the Infant by Oscar Wilde, and … Continue reading →

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Amstel Quartet: CD portrait of Georgs Pelēcis

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Thea Derks

‘All of my creative inspiration comes from music, from euphony that acts as an ideal reflection or embodiment of a homeland. Aspiring for this ideal is the most important theme in my work.’ This is the motto of the Latvian … Continue reading →

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