The voice of the silence

​ In the midst of our daily hustle and bustle, Federico Mompou’s impressive piano cycle Música Callada (Silent Music) offers a space for contemplation. This collection of 28 piano miniatures, composed between 1959 and 1967, seeks what Mompou himself described as “the voice of silence.” Inspired by the mystical poetry of St. John of the Cross, Mompou created a soundscape where silence carries as much meaning as the sounding notes.

For The Hague-based pianist Rik Kuppen, a dream comes true as he performs these delicate piano pieces in a full-evening recital. Known for his refined touch and hailed by critics as a “color virtuoso,” Kuppen has developed into a sought-after soloist and chamber musician. During the performance, some of the mystical poems that inspired Mompou to compose Música Callada will be recited.

Soprano Channa Malkin joins Rik Kuppen in the first part of the programme to perform Spanish songs and two arias from zarzuelas. Malkin has extensive experience with Spanish repertoire and has been praised in the press for her “compelling storytelling” and “beautiful voice.”