At the age of 70 Reinbert de Leeuw received a knighthood in the Order of the Dutch Lion. At the time the city mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen praised his indefatigable advocacy of contemporary music. Now in his 75th year, De Leeuw remains in top form and he conducts his own Asko|Schönberg in this festive birthday concert.

Schönberg’s Suite opus 29 is core repertoire for De Leeuw and his ensemble. De Leeuw’s love for the music of Gérard Grisey (1946-1998) is more recent. In Quatre chants pour franchir le seuil the French composer sketches a gripping image of the downfall of civilisation.

Artists

Gérard Grisey
Quatre chants pour franchir le seuil
Arnold Schönberg 
Suite op. 29

Asko|Schönberg

conductor
Reinbert de Leeuw, Etienne Siebens
soprano
Barbara Hannigan
choreography
Regina van Berkel
scenography
Dietmar Janeck
dancers
Studenten Codarts Dansvakopleiding