Plenty of surprises: Three world premières in Amsterdam

By Kristen Huebner, 23 May 2013

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Reviewed at Concertgebouw: Main Hall, Amsterdam on 18 May 2013

Adriaansz, Rising and Falling

Boulez, Dialogue de l'ombre double

Andriessen, Rosa's Horses (orch. Clark Rundell)

Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic

Clark Rundell, Conductor

Erik Bosgraaf, Recorder

Thrilling singing in Simon Boccanegra at the Concertgebouw

Jenny Camilleri, 16th September

Verdi voices that make one sit up and listen made this a memorable matinee.

****1

Dusting down Il viaggio a Reims

Nicolas Nguyen, 20th January

Director Michieletto’s playful staging, Stefano Montanari’s expressive conducting and stylish singing from a cast of seasoned Rossinian singers make for a thoroughly enjoyable new production of the too rare Il viaggio a Reims at the Dutch National Opera.

****1

Five majestic apocalypses in the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ

Rutger Muller, 22nd December

Many a dark tone roamed inside the Muziekgebouw as lovers of daring, opinionated orchestral music gathered there one day after the Mayan calendar ended. Diverse interpretations of apocalyptic fantasies and prophecies unfolded during this night. Apocalyptic, in its literal Greek meaning: revealing, disclosing.

****1

Masaaki Suzuki leads Radio Kamer Philharmonic through Sturm und Drang

Kristen Huebner, 1st December

The Radio Kamer Filharmonie gave a riveting performance of orchestral works of the late 18th century under the direction of Masaaki Suzuki this weekend at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The theme of the afternoon dealt with the brief but highly influential German artistic movement dubbed Sturm und Drang.

***11

James MacMillan's Violin Concerto in the Concertgebouw

Renée Reitsma, 28th April

James MacMillan’s Violin Concerto was first performed in 2010, but this afternoon, at the Dutch premiere, was the first time he conducted it. It’s quite an extraordinary piece, so full of ideas that you might wonder if he couldn’t have written two concertos instead of just the one. But when it comes to MacMillan, this potential overload of ideas actually works really well.

****1

Death in the light of eternity

Renée Reitsma, 15th April

Amsterdam’s Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ is a venue known for its adventurous programs and patronage of contemporary music. Tonight’s concert was had the theme “Rust z8”, or “Rest in Peace” (literally “Rest softly”). The evening boasted two premieres: a Dutch premiere of James MacMillan’s Nunc dimittis and the world premiere of Alexander Raskatov’s Alphabet of Death, with the composer present.

****1

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Kristen Huebner

Originally from the USA, Kristen Huebner now bases her musical life in the Netherlands and Europe. She currently tours with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir under the direction of Ton Koopman and has collaborated alongside members of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century under Frans Brüggen. Her work with the Paris-based Ensemble Diderot, has led to numerous appearances at festivals such as Musikfest Erzgebirge and the Bach Biennale Weimar. Kristen’s research on Empfindsamkeit in the chamber music of C.P.E. Bach has been adapted into an article for Music & Practice, published in 2015. Kristen joined the teaching team at the 2022 Zomer Academie Zutphen, where she led the traverso masterclass.