Folk Songs

Melodies from around the world tell stories of love, freedom, loss and hope in the closing concert. David Lang depicts in These Broken Wings his dream of being able to fly. That longing for freedom also resounds in A Freedom’s Lament by Amarante Nat.

With Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Franz Schubert composed a grandiose ballad about a mountain shepherd. This virtuoso piece for soprano, clarinet and piano is heard in combination with Schubert’s Quartettsatz. Schubert was an inspiration for Luciano Berio. With Folk Songs, Berio composed a 20th-century classic with folk songs from all over the world. In this cycle – heard in the full ensemble version – the beloved soprano Elisabeth Hetherington is given a starring role. She recently won the Dutch Music Prize.

A programme full of kindred spirits. When Berio wrote his Folk Songs, he was teaching composition in Berlin, with Louis Andriessen in his class. The latter, as a teacher, then passed the baton to David Lang, who in turn inspired Amarante Nat. Percussionist Konstantyn Napolov plays Louis Andriessen’s brilliant percussion solo Woodpecker.