Spain possesses an immensely rich array of musical traditions, from flamenco to the Catalan sardana. There is no single ‘Spanish music’ that defines the nation. Rik Kuppen, Channa Malkin, Lidy Blijdorp, Tobias Borsboom, and Kotaro Fukuma present a musical travelogue that brings Spain to life in all its musical diversity, viewed through the lens of composers such as Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Turina, and Enrique Granados. Two iconic piano cycles are featured in the programme. Isaac Albéniz's Iberia demands the utmost in tonal richness and virtuosity from pianist Kotaro Fukuma. In contrast, Federico Mompou's contemplative Música Callada challenges pianist Rik Kuppen to search for the voice of silence.
Passe-partout for three concerts: € 70
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 20:15
The Hague: Paleiskerk
Thursday,
May 15, 2025, 20:15
The Hague: Paleiskerk
iberia
Rhapsodie
Espagnole
Lidy
Blijdorp cello Tobias Borsboom piano
Enrique
Granados
Madrigal – Spanish Dance Manuel de Falla
Suite Populaire Espagnole Pablo Casals
El Cant dels Ocells (Song of the Birds) Gaspar Cassadó
Suite for solo cello – Requiebros Federico Mompou
Works for solo piano Maurice Ravel
Selection from Rhapsodie Espagnole Alberto Ginastera
Pampeana
The World of Klaas de Vries (with Festival Dag in de Branding)
Klaas de Vries is one of the Netherlands' foremost composers. He celebrated his 80th birthday this past summer. Festival Dag in de Branding honours him with a festival edition which he programmed as a guest curator. In collaboration with Dag in de Branding and société Gavigniès, Classical NOW! presents the festival's two concerts at the Paleiskerk. His daughter Jellantsje de Vries will perform with her regular duo partner and pianist Bobby Mitchell. In the same concert, pianist Matthijs van Wijhe will perform piano works by Klaas de Vries and Christina Viola Oorebeek. The festival’s closing concert is a full evening double portrait of Klaas de Vries and the Hungarian master György Kurtág. No fewer than 10 festival musicians will perform, with pianist Ellen Corver in a central role. The two composers are also featured in the opening concert on Friday evening at Amare: the Residentie Orchestra will perform De Vries's new orchestral piece Cada instante and Kurtág's Stele, the latter rarely performed due to its massive orchestration. This is a rare opportunity to hear this masterpiece live.
Sunday 23 March 2025, 19:30 The Hague: Paleiskerk
The world of klaas de vries (met festival dag in de branding)
György Kurtág and Klaas de Vries: two Soulmates
Gerrie de Vries mezzo-soprano Ellen Corver piano Slava Poprugin piano Felicia van den End flute Jelmer de Moed clarinet Ernestine Stoop harp Niels Meliefste & Te-Ping Teng percussion Jelantsje de Vries violin René van Munster cello Arie van Beek conductor
György Kurtág Selection fomr Kurtágs piano cycle Játékok – Two pieces for cello solo What is the word, for voice and piano Suite for piano (1943)
Klaas de Vries Sonatine for piano (1961) Solo for alto clarinet from A King Riding for clarinet Hölderlin Songs (1990-91/2025) Dutch premiere Piano Concerto – version for piano, flute, clarinet, harp, percussion, violin and cello (1998 rev. 2003)
A coproduction with société Gavigniès in Festival Dag in de Branding (21-23 March)
Saturday 22 March 2025, 15:00 The Hague: Paleiskerk
The world of klaas de vries (with festival dag in de branding)
Radial Web
Jellantsje de
Vries violin Bobby
Mitchell piano Matthijs van Wijhe piano
Christina Viola Oorebeek Radial Web for piano and electronics (2025) Premiere Klaas de Vries Harmonieën
en Frasen from 4 Piano Pieces (2018) Gregory Charette De Fortune me doy pleindre et loer from Three Canons after Machaut (2024) Dutch premiere Frederic Rzewski 2
Satires (2015) Ruth Crawford Seeger Sonata for Violin and Piano (1926)
A coproduction with Festival Dag in de Branding (21-23 March)
Our artist in residence, Antonii Baryshevskyi, is internationally renowned as a leading pianist of 20th century and contemporary music. At the HaagsPianoHuis, he dedicates two recitals to the 20th century avant-garde, one of the most exciting movements in our musical history. Together with violinist Orest Smovzh, he presents a programme centred around John Cage, including Morton Feldman's 80-minute tribute to John Cage, which demands the utmost concentration from both musicians. In a solo recital, he performs works from the 1960s by composers from Valentin Silvestrov's circle. Scores of compositions by Boulez and Stockhausen, smuggled into Kyiv, served as inspiration for them to develop their own revolutionary style. A diptych of pioneering music from two metropolises: New York and Kyiv.
Wednesday 18 December 2024, 20:15 The Hague: HaagsPianoHuis
The Adventure of the Avant-garde
Forbidden music from Kyiv
Antonii Baryshevskyi piano
Volodymyr Zahortsev Rhythms Three Epitaphs
Vitalii Godziackyi Second Piano Sonata Fractured surfaces
Nineteen festival musicians and five composers are coming to the Paleiskerk for the festival Soulmates. Classical NOW! has given clarinettist and theatre maker Jelmer de Moed carte blanche to curate his dream programme. He presents compositions in a wide range of ensembles, from solo to stage-filling pieces. It's a journey through several centuries, from Vivaldi to brand new world premieres.
Jelmer has chosen Soulmates as the theme for the festival, which takes shape in a number of ways. He combines pieces by composers who have inspired each other. Sometimes directly from teacher to student, like Luciano Berio who passed the baton to Louis Andriessen. But also over a distance of centuries. Vivaldi's Stabat Mater will be performed alongside works by Arvo Pärt. They both composed music that achieve maximum expression with minimum means.
Jelmer has invited passionate musicians and composers who, like him, share a passion for adventurous programmes and new music. We expect five inspiring concerts. A gathering of soulmates.
Sunday 1 December 2024, 16:00 The Hague: Paleiskerk
soulmates
Folk Songs
Animato Kwartet Tim Brackman violin Inga Våga Gaustad violin Elisa Karen Tavenier viola Pieter de Koe cello Doriene Marselje harp Rik Kuppen piano Konstantin Napolov percussion Agostinho Sequeira percussion Jelmer de Moed clarinet Eva-Nina Kozmus flute Elisabeth Hetherington soprano
LOUIS
ANDRIESSEN X DAVID LANG X AMARANTE NAT David Lang these broken wings Louis Andriessen Woodpecker Amarante Nat A Freedom's Lament FRANZ SCHUBERT X LUCIANO BERIO Franz Schubert Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D 965 Luciano Berio Lied Franz Schubert Quartettsatz in C minor, D 703 Luciano Berio Folk Songs
Saturday 30 November 2024, 19:30 The Hague: Paleiskerk
soulmates
Debussy’s Universe
Tim Brackman violin Floor Le Coultre violin/viola Elisa Karen Tavenier viola Pieter de Koe cello Doriene Marselje harp Rik Kuppen piano Jelmer de Moed clarinet Eva-Nina Kozmus flute Agostinho Sequeira percussion Elisabeth Hetherington soprano
RAMEAU X DEBUSSY Jean-Philippe Rameau Selection from Suites Claude Debussy Sonata for cello and piano DEBUSSY X TAKEMITSU Claude
Vivier Ojikawa (Dutch premiere) Toru
Takemitsu Rain
Spell Claude Debussy Sonata for flute, viola and harp DEBUSSY X BOULANGER Celia Swart Windgeheimen Claude Debussy Sonata for violin and piano Lili Boulanger Clairières dans le ciel
Friday 29 November 2024, 19:30 The Hague: Paleiskerk
soulmates
Visions, Hymns and Echoes
Animato Quartet Tim Brackman violin Inga Våga Gaustad violin Floor Le Coultre violin/viola Pieter de Koe cello Kalle de Bie cello Jordi Carrasco Hjelm double bass Rik Kuppen piano David Jansen organ Robbrecht van Cauwenberghe bayan Jelmer de Moed clarinet Eva-Nina Kozmus flute Georgia Burashko mezzo-soprano
GUBAIDULINA X SHOSTAKOVICH Sofia Gubaidulina From the Visions of Hildegard of Bingen Alfred Schnittke Hymn II Sofia Gubaidulina In croce Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8 PÄRT X VIVALDI Arvo Pärt Fratres Antonio Vivaldi Stabat Mater, RV 621 Arvo Pärt My heart's in the highlands LOBO X CRUMB Nuno Lobo Stargazer Fish George Crumb Eleven Echoes of Autumn
Thursday 28 November 2024, 20:15 The Hague: Paleiskerk
soulmates
Inspired by Bach
Animato
Quartet: Tim Brackman violin Inga Våga Gaustad violin Elisa Karen Tavenier viola Pieter de Koe cello Floor Le Coultre violin/viola Jelmer de Moed clarinet Eva-Nina Kozmus flute Bram van Sambeekbassoon Rik Kuppen piano Jordi Carrasco Hjelm double bass Georgia Burashko mezzo-soprano
BACH X FAGERLUND Johann Sebastian Bach Trio Sonata, BWV 1079 Sebastian Fagerlund Scherzic Johann Sebastian Bach Inventions, BWV 797 and 798 Sebastian Fagerlund Woodland Variations
BRAHMS X WANTENAAR Mathilde Wantenaar Lieder der Vergänglichkeit Mathilde Wantenaar Nocturnes Johannes Brahms Four Serious Songs, Op. 121 (arranged for soprano
and string sextet by Jelmer de Moed) Johannes Brahms O kühler Wald, Op. 72 No. 3
Wednesday 27 November 2024, 20:15 The Hague: Paleiskerk
soulmates
Around Kurtág
Animato Quartet Tim Brackman violin Inga Våga Gaustad violin Elisa Karen Tavenier viola Pieter de Koe cello Floor Le Coultre violin/viola Rik Kuppen piano Jelmer de Moed clarinet Dani Luca cimbalom
KURTÁG X SCHUMANN György Kurtág Hommage à R. Schumann Robert Schumann Pianokwartet in Es-groot, opus 47 KURTÁG X BARTÓK György Kurtág Drie stukken voor klarinet en cimbalom, opus 38 Jasper de Bock 1001 Stokslagen Béla Bartók Strijkkwartet nr. 1, opus 7 Leó Weiner Két tétel
Sunday 22 September 2024, 20:30 The Hague: Nieuwe Kerk
Geestverwanten
Drop after Drop
Kamerorkest van het Noorden Maxim Shalygin conductor Maryana Golovchenko soprano Nico de Rooij lightning design
A call for peace and justice
A call for peace and justice. A tribute to the innocent victims of the war in Ukraine. The Chamber Orchestra of the North presents Drop after Drop. It is an international ensemble of 22 young string players. We were so impressed by their inspired playing that we invited them to make their debut in The Hague, with the distinguished composer and conductor Maxim Shalygin leading the ensemble in works by himself and his Ukrainian compatriots Svyatoslav Lunyov and Valentin Silvestrov. Soprano Maryana Golovchencko sings intermezzi between the compositions. A meditative and introspective programme enhanced by a lighting design by Nico de Rooij.
Two concert festival Etudes – An Ode to Boundless Imagination
An ode to boundless imagination. A two concert festival with dazzling virtuosity. Nathalia Milstein and our Artist in Residence Antonii Baryshevskyi play two solo recitals with etudes. Composers have been writing concert etudes since Chopin. They challenge pianists to transcend the limitations of their 10 fingers and the 88 keys of their instrument. But composers have also used etudes to explore new worlds of sound and expression. A sunset should be able to rise from a grand piano. Nathalia Milstein present a recital around Rachmaninov’s Etudes-Tableaux, opus 39, in which he transformed paintings into sound poems. Antonii Baryshevskyi begins with Chopin and Liszt and takes us through Debussy, Bartók and Ligeti to our own time, in which composers still write etudes to push boundaries.
Thursday 30 May 2024, 20:15 The Hague: Paleiskerk
etudes
From Chopin till Shalygin
Antonii Baryshesvkyi piano
An ode to imagination
Pianist Antonii Baryshevskyi presents a full evening of etudes. Iconic piano works by Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Bartók and Ligeti alongside a wide range of contemporary etudes by Shalygin, Lunyon, Kerkelov, Hosokawa and Szymanski. Baryshevskyi continues to captivate audiences with an inexhaustible palette of colours and the communicative power of his playing. He has won prestigious competitions and has been acclaimed in leading venues from the Wigmore Hall in London to the Philharmonie in Berlin. This recital is an exhilarating journey through several musical time periods and an ode to the boundless imagination of composers who explore new worlds of sound.
Wednesday 29 May 2024, 20:15 The Hague: Paleiskerk
etudes
Etudes-Tableaux
Nathalia Milstein piano
Fairy tales and paintings
“One of the greatest talents of the new generation.” France Musique is full of praise for pianist Nathalia Milstein, known for her successes on the biggest concert stages. She opens our two concert festival of piano etudes with Rachmaninov's Etudes-Tableaux opus 39. These etudes are inspired by fairy tales and paintings. Although Rachamninov kept his sources of inspiration to himself, it is clear that each of the nine etudes tells a compelling story of its own. The music presents the pianist with great technical challenges, but above all it demands a maximum palette of colours and great narrative power. Qualities that Nathalia Milstein excels in. Her previous performances of Rachmaninov's masterpiece left a deep impression. She also performs Pièces de clavecin by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Claude Debussy’sImages and Thème et Variations by Gabriel Fauré.
Thursday 25 April 2024, 20:15 The Hague: Paleiskerk
pop-upconcert
György Kurtág’s Kafka-Fragmente
Keren Motseri soprano Joe Puglia violin
An iconic masterpiece
“With fearless technique, Motseri explores every corner of Kurtág’s extreme sound world. When a waltz casually appears in the last movement, Motseri and Puglia fill the space with more flair than a Viennese string orchestra. A moment later, an abstract piece of Eastern European folk music thunders into the dance hall, which the virtuoso Puglia draws out of his violin with ferocity and passion. Motseri and Puglia play as if they share the same dream.” De Volkskrant *****
You listen on the edge of your seat. The concerts of soprano Keren Motseri and violinist Joseph Puglia are always inspiring. On stage they challenge each other to find drama in their dialogues, but also the subtlest nuances. A long-cherished wish comes true: they perform György Kurtág'sKafka Fragments. A masterpiece by the now 98-year-old Hungarian composer and an iconic cylce of the 20th century. The two musicians travelled to Budapest to spend several days working on the piece with the perfectionist Kurtág. The Kafka Fragments is a journey into Kafka’s world. The music demands the utmost from the musicians: extroverted theatre, but also heartfelt introspection.
Elisabeth Hetherington's star is rising fast. For both early music and new music, she is a dream interpreter, with a radiant voice and an equally lucid imagination. This opera gala takes us back to the eighteenth-century noble salon, where visitors loved to listen to the hits from the opera theatre in domestic settings. Many popular opera arias from that era were brilliantly arranged for smaller ensemble. These are brought to life by Postscript, one of the best baroque ensembles in our country. A programme with arias by Handel, Hasse, Bononcini and other grandmasters.
Thursday 16 November 2023, 20:00 The Hague: Paleiskerk
pop-upconcert
Phonoramas by Godowsky and Debussy
Tobias Borsboom piano
A masterpiece
Dutch pianist Tobias Borsboom likes to search for hidden treasures in the piano repertoire. On one of his quests he came across the Java Suite by the composer Leopold Godowsky. Godowsky was on a concert tour in Indonesia in 1924 and fell under the spell of Java's temples, jungles, cities and volcanoes. He wrote an hour-long musical travelogue: virtuoso piano music that allows the pianist to conjure a kaleidoscopic palette of colours from the piano.
Friday 17 November 2023, 20:15 The Hague: Paleiskerk
pop-upconcert
Contrasts
Coraline Groen violin Jelmer de Moed clarinet Rik Kuppen piano
In Full Swing
About 100 years ago, jazz, tango and other dance music breathed new life into the compositions of a growing number of composers. Clarinettist Jelmer de Moed, violinist Coraline Groen and Rik Kuppen play a colourful programme around Bartók's Contrasts, written for jazz clarinettist Benny Goodman, with plenty of room for swing. Works by Bernstein, Gershwin, Milhaud, Stravinsky and Ives are also on the programme.
