In this work, the composer offers a personal vision, highlighting themes from human life where ancient and modern worlds converge. Complex emotions of humanity through the ages come to life musically, such as faith, temptation, exile, love, fear, and hope.

The fourth movement, Temptations, is a musical dance about seduction and being seduced, and the duality of these experiences. Innocence awakens and transforms into a seductive being but eventually succumbs to temptations, falling and being banished from paradise. This serves as a metaphor for the Tree of Life (from the creation story) where an evil force (Lilith) turns into a serpent, poisoning the Tree of Life, turning it into the Tree of Death. A step further is taken here: eventually, evil itself is seduced and ‘banished’ to another dimension.

Rieteke Hölscher – music
Itzel Medecigo – dance & choreography
Ensemble Cross Meeting
Joel Vega Salgado – oboe
Kirsti Apajalahti – violin
Pau Marquès i Oleo – cello
Rieteke Hölscher – piano

As performed during the Gaudeamus Music Sessions #25, Utrecht, The Netherlands on 20 November 2021.