Andriessen: May
a new spring, a new sound: Youth Orchestra Flanders spotlights the undisputed godfather of modern Dutch composition
A new spring and a new sound.
The young talents of the Youth Orchestra Flanders put the iconic work of Louis Andriessen – —the undisputed godfather of contemporary Dutch music – at the heart of this programme.
In the 1960s and '70s, Andriessen famously rejected symphonic traditions in favor of a raw, uncompromising sound. Yet his 1980 choral work Un beau baiser stands out as a surprising gem: stepping away from his trademark monumental aesthetic, he reveals a rare side of profound tenderness and intimacy.
Equally unexpected and deeply moving is his final masterpiece, May. Inspired by Herman Gorter’s famous poem Mei ("A new spring and a new sound..."), it became Andriessen's swan song in 2019. Struggling with dementia, he enlisted the help of his close friend and fellow composer Martijn Padding to complete this poignant final work – a beautiful reflection that weaves together hope, life, and silence.
May stands side by side with compositions by his role models Ravel and Stravinsky. All three create, in their own way, a unique musical world using timbre, rhythm and orchestral imagination as building blocks.
concert
programme
Louis Andriessen Un Beau Baiser (1983)
Louis Andriessen May (2019)
Maurice Ravel La Valse (1920)
Igor Stravinsky Mavra (1922)
concert with interval (135')
part of festival Rimpelingen (Rides)
artists
Hannah Eisendle conductor
Youth Orchestra Flanders
Vlaams Radiokoor
International Opera Academy
with the support of Beside Tax Shelter and the Belgian Tax Shelter
practical
∙ 19:15 introduction
∙ 20:00 concert
∙ 22:15 end
location
Concertgebouw Brugge ∙ 't Zand 34, 8000 Brugge ∙ how to reach the venue
tickets
€28 (standard) ∙ €18,20 (-35) ∙ €14 (-26)
Un Beau Baiser
While Louis Andriessen is famous for his monumental sounds, with Un Beau Baiser (set to the sensual verses of Alfred de Musset) he created an unexpectedly tender and intimate vocal masterpiece. Enjoy our Vocal Fabric video and let yourself be carried away by this surprisingly gentle side of the Dutch maestro.
Donne-moi, ma belle maîtresse,
Un beau baiser, car je te veux.
Raconter ma longue détresse,
En caressant tes beaux cheveux.
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