Klaas de Vries guest curator in March
Klaas de Vries, one of the Netherlands’ greatest composers, turned 80 this summer and… he has just written a major new orchestral work. Reason enough for Festival Dag in de Branding to honour De Vries with a festive and extra-long edition from 21-23 March 2o25, which he was invited to guest curate.
This edition also celebrates another great composer of our time: Hungarian grandmaster György Kurtág. Together, De Vries and Kurtág account for almost a century and a half of composing, giving this edition of Festival Dag in de Branding an exceptional depth of time. Just listen: you are never too old to learn, create, blush or be touched.
On Friday evening, the festival begins with works by both composers in Amare. The Residentie Orkest and students of the Royal Conservatoire play Kurtág’s Stele and the premiere of De Vries’ afore-mentioned new orchestral work, entitled Cada instante.
On Saturday, there are five very different concerts, from chamber music by violinist Jellantsje de Vries (Klaas’ daughter) and pianist Bobby Mitchell to microtonal jazz by Sander Germanus & the Hallucinating Harmonists – recommended by Klaas de Vries himself. There is musical theatre with an encounter between a juggler and a drummer in the back of a lorry and also a presentation of the latest research by composer-in-residence Myrto Nizami’s. And Asko|Schönberg plays De Vries’ magnificent Sub nocte per umbras.
The festival closes in the Paleiskerk on Sunday with an extensive programme dedicated to music by Klaas de Vries and György Kurtág, including two early works they wrote as teenagers and two world premieres. This unique event is organised by Festival Dag in de Branding in collaboration with Classical NOW!