Lavinia Meijer & Wishful Singing
December 2023, the world-famous harpist Lavinia Meijer and the Netherlands' most famous female a cappella ensemble will go on tour. They perform the touching Christmas story of The Little Match Girl Passion and the well-known, atmospheric A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten.
The Little Match Girl Passion (2008) is an acclaimed composition by David Lang. In 2008 he won the Pulitzer Prize for his composition of this moving story. He has adapted Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale, The little Match Girl, into a contemporary classic. A heartbreaking Christmas story in the tradition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Johann Sebastian Bach's St Matthew Passion. Especially for this wonderful Christmas program, Lavinia Meijer has made an arrangement for harp and vocals of Wishful Singing. On this unique evening, the beautiful A Ceremony of Carols is a nice addition to this Christmas program, in which beauty and emotion come together.
Photo © Anne Claire de Breij
Credits Cast & Crew
In The Sound of Light, The Gents work together with conductor and artistic leader Patrick Pranger. There is classical music, a special Dutch pop premiere, there are Afro-American spirituals and Setareh Nafisi is composing a new piece based on the poem we grow accustomed to the dark by Emily Dickinson. We interweave video interviews in the program about the topics covered in the music and there is a beautiful lighting design. The Sound of Light is about hope, resilience, getting the best out of yourself and about connecting with the other.
Photo © Manuel Quesada
Credits Cast & Crew
a visual and musical journey about following your heart
Before Vincent Van Gogh dedicated his life to painting, he had all kinds of occupations. His expectations were high, he tried everything, but no profession gave him satisfaction. It wasn't until he was 27 that he found his calling: living as an artist. In Van Gogh's Way to Go! we follow Vincent along the path where his passion for art, without regard for any conventions, took him.
Reed Quintet Calefax brings Van Gogh both musically and theatrically to life. By means of projections we zoom in on the tiniest details of his art and ravel alongside Vincent with quotes from himself or his loved ones. Through diverse styles of classical music by among others Bizet, Berlioz, Franck, Schumann - pieces that Vincent has listened to himself or which were written during his life - but also by living composers, the underlying emotions will be made tangible.
Calefax Reed Quintet is developing two variants of this production: a staged evening concertversion for adults and an international touring production.
Photo © Rob van Dam
Credits Cast & Crew
Videodesign © Annechien Koerselman
Technical elaboration © Daan Hazendonk
Organisation Calefax Reedquintet Amsterdam
Videodesign © Annechien Koerselman
Technical elaboration © Daan Hazendonk
Organisation Calefax Reedquintet Amsterdam
Videodesign © Annechien Koerselman
Technical elaboration © Daan Hazendonk
Organisation Calefax Reedquintet Amsterdam
an interactive quest for an ancient musical treasure (9+)
Imagine: you inherit a map with which you can find a treasure that has been hidden for centuries in a monastery in Transylvania, present-day Romania. Then of course you don't think twice, but you go out together with the musicians of Black Pencil to fathom this mystery. Their instruments from recorders and pan flutes to percussion, viola and harmonica will show you the way. But be warned, the Caioni codex cannot be revealed easily: there are musical riddles to be solved and codes to be cracked.
In The Caioni Codex, the musicians of Black Pencil interactively reveal the most beautiful music collected by the monk Caioni in the 17th century. His playlist contains a colorful collection of famous works by Monteverdi and di Lasso and exciting Romanian dances that will make you swing in your seat, while the next riddle already presents itself. This is how your ears open the way to the holy grail.
Foto © Claudia Hansen
Credits Cast & Crew
a non-verbal, participatory music theater production for the whole family (ages 4 and up)
As a Christmas surprise for their parents, the forestchildren Vesta and Diana want to decorate a pine tree, but accidentally they turn King Winter's land upside down. Then, for his part, King Winter has to enlist the help of his fellow seasons Prince Primavera, Summerking Estate and Count Autumn Autunno to achieve another white Christmas in time. However, as benefits a good Christmas story: All's well that ends well!
Oh Tree of Wonder is a magical Christmas story with the forestchildren Vesta and Diana in the Gnome Forest! Four musicians slip into the roles of the four seasons and team up with the audience to sing classic Austrian, Portuguese and American Christmas songs as well as works by Claude Debussy, Engelbert Humperdinck and Astor Piazzolla. This participative concert is all about the non-verbal power of music. Together, performers and audience discover the techniques and functions of the orchestral instruments, hold conversations without words and enter musical competitions.
Foto © Nina Ball
Credits Cast & Crew
St. Pölten (AT), November 14, 2023
I am a "diehard opera and classical music fan" - and have seen many, many delightful productions for children by the Niederösterreichische Tonkünstler. But today I was really impressed by the musicality, the pedagogical concept, the implementation of a Christmas theme, etc... Hats off! Congratulations on this piece and on this quality! All senses were heartwarmingly nourished in the highest quality. When art is so good - then it is nourishment for the soul in its most beautiful form.
Anita Schuster (Haus 13, St. Pölten)