A selection from the program
Grieg - Peer Gynt Suites nrs. 1 and 2
Ravel - Don Quichotte à Dulcinée
Ravel - Chansons populaires
The story of Peer Gynt
Everyone knows the beautiful melodies from Grieg's 'Peer Gynt Suites'. Baritone Willem de Vries and organist Geert Bierling play Grieg's famous music of course, but also tell the story of the Norwegian hero Peer Gynt. Meet Peer who, as a young man, escapes reality by dreaming. He dreams about exotic journeys, power, kings, trolls and finally love. Grieg's music fits the story like a glove, but also became world-famous apart from Henrik Ibsen's play. Morgenstimmung' and 'Ases dood' found their way to the general public in countless films and TV commercials.
Ravel and Poulenc
Besides Peer Gynt, Willem de Vries and Geer Bierling bring another literary hero to life: Don Quixote. Maurice Ravel wrote the beautiful song series 'Don Quichotte à Dulcinée'. These songs sound together with Ravel's 'Chants populaires' and some pieces by Francis Poulenc. Experience a wonderful evening in Norwegian and French regions!
Geert Bierling
Organist Geert Bierling can easily be called a musical jack-of-all-trades. He regularly gives concerts with his Giudici Ensemble and he organized five successful editions of the Rotterdam Organ Days. Geert Bierling also runs his own CD label. But his most important job is that of city carillonneur and organist of Rotterdam - permanent player of the concert organ in the City Hall and the famous organ of Concert- and Congresgebouw de Doelen. He takes all these experiences with him to the romantic Ypma organ of the Edesche Concert Hall.
Geert Bierling on the voice of Willem de Vries
"William sings with his heart. I mean, he means the words he sings. As a singer, he is constantly busy expressing lyrics. Even if, as a listener, you wouldn't know what the lyrics are about, it still touches you. He masters the expression of the great 'folk singers', combined with a great artistic feeling"
(Read the interview with Geert Bierling.)
Willem de Vries
Baritone Willem de Vries can regularly be heard in various opera productions by opera theatres such as Opera Zuid, Opera Trionfo and the Summer Opera Festival in Alden Biesen (Belgium). Willem de Vries is on occasion part of the Frommermann ensemble, known for his performances at the 2006 Queen's Day concert at the Noordeinde Palace and the 2008 AVRO Prinsengracht concert in Amsterdam with repertoire by the Comedian Harmonists.
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Maurice Ravel Charles Borges Francis Poulenc Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt Seizoen '18-'19 OrgelPlus Orgel bariton zang liederen lied Don Quichotte