Classical NOW! Festival Kindred spirits: Debussy's universe
A full-length programme around Debussy's three sonatas, featuring works by Claude Debussy, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Claude Vivier, Toru Takemitsu, Celia Swart and Lili Boulanger, performed by Tim Brackman, Floor Le Coultre, Elisa Karen Tavenier, Pieter de Koe, Doriene Marselje, Rik Kuppen, Jelmer de Moed, Eva-Nina Kozmus, Agostinho Sequeira, Elisabeth Hetherington.
Nineteen festival musicians descend on the Palace Church for the Festival Kindred. Classical NOW! gave Jelmer de Moed carte blanche to put together his dream programme. He is a clarinettist and initiator of multidisciplinary music theatre with Studio de Moed. In Kindred spirits, he presents compositions in a wide range of line-ups, from solo to full-stage. A time travel through several centuries, from Vivaldi to brand new premiere pieces.
It is one of his finest works: the cycle of three sonatas with which Debussy paid tribute to the French soldiers in World War I, and to the Baroque composers he admired. The sonatas inspired countless composers in the 20th century.
Pianist Rik Kuppen opens the concert with ‘Pièces de clavecin’ by Baroque composer Rameau, who was a role model for Debussy, as can be heard in his Cello Sonata. For his Second Sonata for harp, flute and viola, Debussy drew inspiration from music from all over the world. Debussy's sound magic prompted Japanese Toru Takemitsu to become a composer. In his enchanting ‘Rain Spell’, he depicted rain, and Claude Vivier was also inspired by water in ‘Ojikawa’ (stream), a major theme in Debussy's music.
In Celia Swart's ‘Wind Secrets’, natural sounds transport us to a mythical world where nature and poetry merge, just like in Debussy's Violin Sonata. Lili Boulanger wrote her mystical song cycle ‘Clairières dans le Ciel’ with inspiration from Debussy.
Programme:
- Jean-Philippe Rameau: Selection from Suites
- Claude Debussy: Sonata for cello and piano
- Claude Vivier: Ojikawa
- Toru Takemitsu: Rain Spell
- Claude Debussy: Sonata for flute, viola and harp
- Celia Swart: Wind Secrets
- Claude Debussy: Sonata for violin and piano
- Lili Boulanger: Clairières dans le ciel (arr.)
Musicians:
- 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)