Rameau and the Greeks

Cretan ebullience and 17th century French beauty, hand in hand

One of the most important opera composers in history is the Frenchman Jean-Philippe Rameau: 35 operas! 35 operas, composed in the 17th century, and almost all with librettos based on Greek tragedies or comedies. The emotions, passion and tragedy of these classic stories were evidently an unprecedented source of inspiration for Rameau.  This was the reason for NBE to link a number of Rameau’s fabulous opera overtures to traditional Greek music, which is still relevant today and is played almost daily by young and old in villages and cities, on the mainland and on the islands. Our phenomenal guests are father and sons Giorgos, Nikos and Adonis Xylouris, tremendous heroes in Crete. Cretan traditional music is different from the music of the mainland. The rhythms are wilder and more unpredictable and the influence of the East is never far away. The laouto, the Cretan precursor of the guitar and the Lyra, a pear shaped, three-stringed instrument made from mulberry wood, both play an important role in Cretan music. The Lyra is held on the knee. The tones are formed by pushing the fingernail against the strings, rather than by pressing the strings onto the fret board. A viola da Gamba avant la letter…

COMPOSITION: JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU & TRADITIONAL GREEK MUSIC
ADAPTATION: JULIAN SCHNEEMANN
LAOUTO: GIORGOS XYLOURIS
LAOUTO: ADONIS XYLOURIS
LYRA/MANDOLIN: NIKOS XYLOURIS
when to see it

Finals Composers Competition ‘On the Road to the New Year’s Concert 2025’

photo: Peter Lodder

During this final, young composers compete against each other for a spot in the New Year’s Concert. They represent the cream of the crop of.

Read more 22-12-2024 t/m 22-12-2024

Nieuwjaarsconcert 2025 (New Year’s Concert 2025)

photo: Peter Lodder

Traditionally, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble heralds the new year with a grand, musical celebration from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. This year, we celebrate the ensemble’s.

Read more 31-12-2024 t/m 01-01-2025

Het Paradijs (The Paradise)

photo: Peter Lodder

Using the three oratorios by Franz Joseph Haydn (Die Schöpfung, Die Jahreszeiten and Die Sieben letzten Worte) as a starting point, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble,.

Read more 01-02-2025 t/m 02-02-2025

Het Ultieme Nieuwjaarsconcert (The Ultimate New Year’s Concert)

photo: Peter Lodder

For over 50 years, the NBE has welcomed the new year with the festive New Year’s concerts from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Over the years,.

Read more 06-02-2025 t/m 16-02-2025

In Hogere Sferen – Bach, Sufi & Pärt (In Higher Realms)

photo: Peter Lodder

As Sufism encourages unity and harmony, and connects Eastern and Western ideologies, in the program In Hogere Sferen – Bach, Sufi & Pärt (In Higher Realms).

Read more 04-03-2025 t/m 18-04-2025

De 9e (The 9th)

photo: Melle Meivogel

The ultimate symphony of peace and freedom: Beethoven’s Ninth. Beethoven was a rebel & rockstar of his time: artistically independent, he pushed the boundaries of.

Read more 08-05-2025 t/m 22-05-2025