2016 Holland Festival
1st June 2016
Central to the festival are the Holland Festival Proms, where Solar Trilogy by Poul Ruders is performed live for the first time in its entirety. The trilogy is formed of three works, Gong, Zenith and Corona. Gong is a symphonic drama about ultimate annihilation of the prime source of Life itself. Zenith presents a musical parable about the archetypal, basic human striving towards climaxes, will, power and vision. At last Corona offers way out of the destruction and pessimism by presenting a symphonic portrait of the sizzling halo of electrons and photons.
Before the performance of the Solar Trilogy, the Kronos Quartet will perform One Earth, One People, One Love by Terry Riley and Aheym (Homeward) by Bryce Dessner. Riley’s work is taken from the Sun Rings cycle, which incorporates the spoken communication of NASA-missions. Dessner approaches the concept of earth in a more geopolitical way and gets his inspiration by the migration of his family to the United States of America.
For the first time in the Netherlands one can also experience In C Mali, Terry Riley's minimalist masterpiece produced by Africa Express, following its exceptionally well received performances in the Tate Modern and at the Ruhrtriennale.
In addition, Daniel Wohl collaborated with five top Dutch musicians to rethink the potential of improvisation in the classical music scene with the project Backbone. Each participating composer, including Wohl, limited their contribution to just a ‘backbone’ - an A4 sheet to start the improvisation from.
Last but not least there are two prestigious performances of music by Donnacha Dennehy: a Kronos Quartet commission as part of their Fifty for the Future project and at a new dance piece at the Dutch National Ballet with George Williamson’s urban industrial ballet Crane.
Concert Details:
Crane | June 11, 17, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26 | Nationale Opera & Ballet
Backbone | June 8 | Bimhuis, Amsterdam
One Hundred Goodbyes (Céad Slán) | June 23 | Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam
Aheym (Homeward) & One Earth, One People, One Love | June 25 | Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
Solar Trilogy | June 25 | Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
In C Mali | June 25 | Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
