An existential quest, a philosophising involving musical notes: one could characterise the work of György Kurtág and Jan van de Putte in this way.

Both seek silent inner spaces in their music, and explore the ‘chaos within’ (Van de Putte). In What is the word – after Beckett – Kurtág balances on the verge of speechlessness. With the instrumental forces deployed throughout the entire hall, his compositions provide a unique listening experience. Van de Putte’s new song cycle to texts by the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa is also a quest to uncover the sound’s innermost core. The composer follows the musings of this eccentric poet with intuitive manipulations of sound.

Artists

György Kurtág
Samuel Beckett: What is the Word op. 30/b
Grabstein für Stephan op. 15c
Four Songs, op. 11
Jan van de Putte
Bamboleamos no mundo
Anton Webern
Sechs Stücke op. 6 

Asko|Schönberg
Slagwerk Den Haag
Cappella amsterdam

conductor
Reinbert de Leeuw
soprano
Keren Motseri
mezzo soprano
Barbara Kozelj
bass
Harry van der Kamp
voice
Gerrie de Vries
guitar
Elliot Simpson