Baritone Vincent Kusters and pianist Charlie Bo Meijering perform ‘Voor ik slaap’ (Before I Sleep) composed by Max van Platen

During the Coronavirus pandemic many Dutch composers have written new compositions, but due to all the limitations they could not be performed. In collaboration with Dutch Composers Now we have invited a number of composers and musicians to play these new pieces during our Vrije Geluiden Sessions.

‘Voor ik slaap’ (Before I Sleep) is a composition by the young Dutch composer Max van Platen (1996). According to the performers, it is a unique work in the song genre. Where normally the piano takes on a more illustrative and accompanying function, the roles are reversed in this song. The pianist is leading and the singer offers an explanation of his playing, as it were.

Vincent Kusters has been working with pianist Charlie Bo Meijering since 2018. Together they form a Lied-duo and are currently coached by Meinard Kraak. In 2019 they won the Prize Association Friends of the IVC during the International Vocal Competition in ‘s-Hertogenbosch for Lied-duos.

This video was recorded in Zaandam FluXus/Verkadefabriek 2021
for VPRO Vrije Geluiden in co-production with New Music NOW