Im wunderschönen Monat Mai

7 — 15 Dec 2017

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai is Reinbert de Leeuw’s highly praised and lauded impression, for musical theatre, on the songs of Schumann and Schubert, with actress Loes Haverkort in the leading role and De Leeuw himself playing piano.

He has arranged some well-known romantic lieder into an idiosyncratic and vulnerable but wondrously beautiful cycle for voice, piano and ensemble. It represents a journey through life and the tragic love that surpasses all human emotions.
The role of the singer/actress here is expressive and moving, with just as much acting as singing. Reinbert de Leeuw opted to use an untrained voice for this work, specifically to emphasise the aspects of vulnerability and theatricality. T
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai received an Edison Award in 2008.

After the premiere of Im wunderschönen Monat Mai (2003) and the release of the DVD, the press wrote:

‘De Leeuw had provided for a tasteful, super-romantic instrumentation’ (Trouw).

‘De Leeuw has shortened or stretched his 21 songs as frankly as virtuoso, instrumented and intertwined, consistently searching for the drama and lyricism, the genius behind the notes, the sharp claw of love, death and Sehnsucht’ (de Volkskrant) .

‘De Leeuw knows how to highlight dramatic important motifs and uses the instruments in the ensemble as real characters in a theater play’ (Luister).

‘De Leeuw and the ensemble are playing brilliantly’ (Het Parool).

Audience reactions
We enjoyed the sublime beauty of the play of your musicians and the genius musical compilation by Reinbert de Leeuw so much. We still feel in heaven!

Recently I attended one of the performances of ‘Im wunderschonen Monat Mai’. I must say: one of the most beautiful things I ever heard in a concert hall… All honour to his great work!! My question is: when will this be performed again?

Wonderful performance!

It was awesome, moving and pure!

We enjoyed the beautiful performance! It was incredible, so pure and intense!

Artists

REINBERT DE LEEUW
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
Three times seven Songs after Schumann and Schubert

ASKO|SCHÖNBERG
singer/actrice Loes Haverkort
piano Reinbert de Leeuw

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Past

Dec. 15 2017

Friday