Parelduiken offers a glimpse into the unique music of Dutch composers. Music that stood out to both professionals and the audience but is rarely heard today. In this program, we dive into these beautiful pearls and bring them back to life in a brand-new performance. The pieces will also be recorded for the first time. Aad van Nieuwkerk hosts and engages in conversation with the composers about their artistic drives.

With Fear and Growing Silence for solo piano, Kris Oelbrandt (1972) documented a personal journey. The two movements from his piano cycle Catharsis were inspired by the Rules of Benedict, which he experienced closely as a monk. He musically portrayed part of his journey from a turbulent life to serene balance in the monastery.

Wasser on Lsjoen is part of the Yiddish song cycle composed by Caroline Ansink (1959) to texts by Malka Heifetz Tussman. She dedicated the cycle to mezzo-soprano Jard van Nes, who successfully toured with it both domestically and internationally in the 1990s. Her performance at Carnegie Hall received a glowing review in the New York Times.

In Book of Samples: 'zero in/zero out' (2021-2023) for piano and bass clarinet, Christina Viola Oorebeek (1944) explores how textiles can be woven into music. She found intriguing patterns in a historical fabric sample book from the Parisian textile manufacturer Fortin, which she translated into layered and repetitive musical structures.

Renske Vrolijk (1965) wrote her song cycle True Love as a response to Donald Trump's first term as president. Several topics are addressed: women as sexual objects, the #MeToo movement, and issues of gender and power.

The program committee consists of Aad van Nieuwkerk (VPRO), Doris Hochscheid (cellist, St. Cello Sonate), Aljosja Buijs (pianist, head of classical music at Artez Zwolle), David Dramm (composer, Splendor), and Jo Sporck (composer, Nieuw Geneco).

Parelduiken is an initiative of Nieuw Geneco – Society of Dutch Composers in collaboration with VPRO Vrije Geluiden and New Music NOW, made possible by a donation from the Social Fund of Buma.

Program
Kris Oelbrandt - Fear and Growing Silence from the piano cycle Catharsis (2012)
Caroline Ansink - Wasser on Lsjoen from the Yiddish song cycle (1995) to texts by Malka Heifetz Tussman
Christina Viola Oorebeek - Book of Samples: 'zero in/zero out' (2021-2023)
Renske Vrolijk -True Love and The Gun in My Pocket from True Love Song Cycle (2018)

Performers
Gerard Bouwhuis – piano
Rosina Fabius – vocals
Reinier van Houdt – piano
Michel Marang – bass clarinet
Katrien Baerts – vocals
Aad van Nieuwkerk – presentation