Tag Archives: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Elena Firsova composes Piano Concerto for Concertgebouw Orchestra: ‘A new work of art brings new life’

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Thea Derks

On 16 and 17 June, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will present the world premiere of Elena Firsova’s Concert for Piano and Orchestra. She was inspired by a quotation from Boris Pasternak and a motif from Beethoven. I interviewed her for … Continue reading →

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Joey Roukens honours J.P. Sweelinck: ‘He may well be the greatest Dutch composer ever’

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Thea Derks

Four hundred years ago, on 16 October 1621 to be precise, the organist, harpsichordist and composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck died in Amsterdam. Musicians from all over Europe flocked to the Dutch capital to hear the ‘Orpheus of Amsterdam’, and through … Continue reading →

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Unsuk Chin: ‘Without an inner conflict I’ll come to nothing’

Posted on September 5, 2020 by Thea Derks

The music of Unsuk Chin was often performed in the Netherlands by the Nieuw Ensemble and in the radio series NTRZaterdagMatinee. On 24 and 25 September she debuts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra with Subito con sforza, a commission. I … Continue reading →

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Four reasons to attend Pelléas et Mélisande at Dutch National Opera #HF19

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Thea Derks

Due to its wide range of events the Holland Festival is at times its own competitor. I missed Turan Dokht and the premiere of Pelléas et Mélisande because I attended aus LICHT. To visit a performance of Debussy’s first and … Continue reading →

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Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice re-interpreted

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Thea Derks

Just out: Een os op het dak: moderne muziek na 1900 in vogelvlucht. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra joined forces with International Theatre Amsterdam (ITA) and director Ivo van Hove for a re-interpretation of the famous novella Death in Venice, by … Continue reading →

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Lotta Wennäkoski on her Flute Concerto Soie: ‘You can hear the silkworms swarming’

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Thea Derks

The Finnish Lotta Wennäkoski needs images to compose. Her Flute Concerto Soie is inspired by the tactile qualities of cotton, linen and silk. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and flutist Kersten McCall present the Dutch premiere in March 2019. I interviewed … Continue reading →

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George Benjamin: ‘I appreciate detail and spontaneous incursion’

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Thea Derks

Just out: ‘Een os op het dak: moderne muzizek na 1900 in vogelvlucht’. Despite VAT increase still available for € 14,95. In 2015 George Benjamin, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, female singers of the Dutch Chamber Choir and countertenor Bejun Mehta … Continue reading →

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Guillaume Connesson: ‘I used a 12tone-row to create an icy atmosphere’

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Thea Derks

The French composer Guillaume Connesson (1970) writes colourful music that speaks directly to the heart. Like many of his peers he is not preoccupied with innovation per se, but seeks inspiration in the entire treasure trove of musical history. In … Continue reading →

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Matthias Pintscher makes debut with Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Thea Derks

The German Matthias Pintscher (Marl, 1971) makes his debut as a conducting composer with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. On Thursday 1 February he conducts the programme Japanese impressions, with works by Noriko Baba, Toru Takemitsu and Claude Debussy. The next … Continue reading →

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Peter Eötvös composes organ concerto based on string theory

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Thea Derks

On October 19, Peter Eötvös will conduct the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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