SOLAR HARMONY
Saariaho employs beautiful imagery to describe her composition 'Solar': the underlying idea shines like a resounding celestial body that continually pulls harmony back to its starting point, as if the music follows the laws of gravity. In 'Amers' (French for navigation points at sea), she portrays the image of a sailboat trying to maintain its course despite the waves. The world premiere of Annelies Van Parys' composition adds a contemporary star to this sparkling concert.
In What We Trust
I SOLISTI and the Vlaams Radiokoor, writer Maud Vanhauwaert, composer Frederik Neyrinck, videographer Bas Van Hoeck and LARF! join forces for a brand-new production focusing on religion and meaning and what these themes mean for the younger generations in today's diverse society.
RE(f/v)erence
...like a sunny harmony that spreads its rays everywhere after which they return again and again to the core. This is how Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho (1952-2923) describes her work 'Solar'. Around this shining work, three female creators, from as many different generations, create resounding reflections as reverence.
85 years Andriessen
On July 1, 2021, Louis Andriessen, one of the greatest composers of the Netherlands, passed away. Ensemble I SOLISTI pays tribute to the master, not only through his own works but also recognizing his significant influence as an educator on the international music scene. The program features music by Andriessen himself, as well as a composition by Martijn Padding, a student, colleague, and above all, a close friend of Andriessen, who created an In Memoriam piece. Together, they provide a multi-layered portrait of the man who would have turned 85 this year.
De geboorte van de mensheiD
Darius Milhaud found inspiration for La création du monde in an African creation myth involving the primordial deities Nzame, Medere, and N’kva. Theater maker Gorges Ocloo, on his part, contemplates the story of stories: timeless and from a distance.
Satire Satie
In Satire Satie, everything revolves around one of Satie's most remarkable masterpieces: Parade, a notorious "succès de scandale" in French music history. Satie flirts with the allure of nonsense and bad taste, but above all, showcases his musical humor. The masterpieces of Poulenc and Stravinsky join in the festive French sound orgy of the 1920s.
The duke story
As a common thread in The Duke Story, the music of Duke Ellington (1899-1974) resounds. Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington embodied jazz like no other. He gained fame as a pianist and bandleader for several decades and composed an extensive repertoire. In combination with the aforementioned classical works, a selection of well-known and lesser-known tunes by Ellington is arranged for wind ensemble and piano.
LESS IS MORE
4'33" by John Cage, a unique piece directing attention to "non-existent" silence. Under Manoj Kamps' direction, HERMESensemble and I SOLISTI present a selection from the expressive post-war New York era, including Morton Feldman's "For Samuel Beckett" with irregular sustained tones, and Terry Riley's groundbreaking "In C" establishing minimal music's foundations.
Die harmonie & Nextgeneration artists
I SOLISTI presents Mozart's Nachtmusik K. 388, a captivating wind serenade, alongside Le Nozze di Figaro's overture and arias in a historic arrangement. Young talents Jappe and Balder Dendievel, both I SOLISTI NextGeneration Artists, showcase their exceptional skills with solo performances, featuring Britten's oboe work and Wim Henderickx's bassoon work. A remarkable evening celebrating classical masterpieces and emerging talents.
85 years Andriessen
On July 1, 2021, Louis Andriessen, one of the greatest composers of the Netherlands, passed away. Ensemble I SOLISTI pays tribute to the master, not only through his own works but also recognizing his significant influence as an educator on the international music scene. The program features music by Andriessen himself, as well as a composition by Martijn Padding, a student, colleague, and above all, a close friend of Andriessen, who created an In Memoriam piece. Together, they provide a multi-layered portrait of the man who would have turned 85 this year.
Graal Théâtre
With the title Graal Théâtre Kaija Saariaho refers to the legend of King Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table. Metaphorically, she was also inspired by the quest for the Holy Grail. The eponymous book by Jacques Roubaud prompted her to do something that had seemed impossible for a long time: to write a violin concerto, a genre that "already boasts so many moving and brilliant masterpieces." With her tender language, she does justice to both motifs.