The fact that much of the Netherlands is situated ‘onder NAP’, Dutch for ‘below sea level’, is something its citizens mostly take for granted. But how safe are they really, behind the dunes and the dykes, now that the ice caps are melting and the oceans rising? In Onder NAP, the ten musicians of 9×13 submerge the listener in this climatological dilemma. In a slapstick-like and swinging performance full of brass and percussion, they mix the witty ingenuity of Jacques Tati with the absurdist humour of Monty Python. Actually though, there is nothing as serious as comedy, especially when it comes to our climate.

Onder NAP features music by Genevieve Murphy, Huba de Graaff, Pete Harden, Marc Kaptein, Ned McGowan, Wolfgang Rihm and Moondog, among others.

concept: Anton van Houten
director: David Geysen

Neo-fanfare 9×13 is a ten-member ensemble that works with directors and choreographers to create musical theatre with no dialogue but plenty of visual splendour in terms of costumes and mobile sets. 9×13 takes new music outside of the concert hall: the ensemble specialises in pop-up performances, mostly outdoors. Fanfare orchestras are a staple of Dutch culture, evoking familiarity, celebration and accessibility, and that is exactly what 9×13 aims to bring.

Curious? Watch the Onder NAP trailer here.