The concert series Parelduiken dives deep to find beautiful pearls by Dutch composers: remarkable works that are hardly performed anymore. In a new performance by Nieuw Amsterdams Peil, these forgotten works will be recorded for the first time. Composer Anne-Maartje Lemereis briefly talks with the four selected composers about their 'gems.'
Crop Circle by Petra Strahovnik is inspired by crop circles: the mystique surrounding their appearance, and the clarity of their form combined with the uncertainty about how they come into being. This interweaving of complexity and simplicity returns in the music, an art form that, according to Strahovnik, cannot be captured in words either.
The piano trio 3/3 by Martijn Voorvelt is part of a series in which he explores how independent pieces can together form a single composition. The triptych 3/3 consists of overlapping solo pieces inspired by historical figures: the violin by Icarus, the cello by Augustine, the piano by Beethoven. Other works in the series are 4/4 (string quartet), 5/5 (reed quintet) and 6/6 (string sextet). The most recent performance of the work took place in Rome in 2003.
L'Ange Maudit (The Cursed Angel, 2000) by Carlos Micháns premiered at the Concertgebouw. The work for violin and piano balances between elegance, brilliance and rage. It was commissioned by the Oskar Back Foundation as a required piece for the 2001 National Violin Competition. This time, Micháns dedicates the piece to violinist Ronald Hoogeveen, who passed away in 2023.
For Springs Eternal, Vanessa Lann drew inspiration from Beethoven's Spring Sonata, in which he treats violin and piano as equals: with no true soloist and no clear accompanist. In Lann's work, too, the instruments swap roles. However, "spring" takes on an entirely different meaning in this performance: the violin part is placed on five different music stands around the stage, and the violinist has to turn and walk to each stand while playing.
About Parelduiken
The selection for Parelduiken was made through an open call. The jury members: Aad van Nieuwkerk (podcast maker of Muziekmakers der Nederlanden, formerly VPRO Vrije Geluiden), Doris Hochscheid (cellist, St. Cello Sonate) and Aljosja Buijs (pianist, head of classical music at ArtEZ Zwolle).
Parelduiken is a production by Nieuw Geneco in collaboration with New Music NOW and TivoliVredenburg, and is made possible in part by a donation from the Sociaal Fonds Buma.
