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Bio

Amsterdam born composer Mathilde Wantenaar (1993) started her studies at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where she studied classical composition with Willem Jeths and Wim Henderickx and subsidiary subjects including piano, cello, classical voice and advanced rhythm.

Wantenaar’s music has been described as lyrical, enchanting and eclectic yet authentic. The combination of her craftsmanship and openness to a broad array of genres make Wantenaar a very versatile composer. She works with individual musicians, both vocalists and instrumentalists, as well as small ensembles, large orchestras and everything in between, and is especially interested in creating opera.

After her first chamber opera premiered during the Opera Forward Festival 2016 of the Dutch National Opera Wantenaar completed her composition studies and was admitted to the Royal Conservatory of The Hague to study classical voice with Rita Dams and Noa Frenkel where the goal was to further develop her musicality, explore the art of singing in depth and learn more about drama. This proved to be an invaluable experience with regards to her vocal writing in particular, but also her compositional approach in general.

For three years Wantenaar divided her time between her composition practice and vocal studies, until she got her first orchestral commission (Prélude à une nuit américaine for the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) as well as an opera commission (Een lied voor de maan for the Dutch National Opera) in 2019 and decided it was time to focus solely on composition from now on.

Wantenaar has written for, and collaborated with, the Dutch National Opera, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Residentie Orkest, the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the Netherlands Chamber Choir the Dutch Wind Ensemble, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Britten Sinfonia, Liza Ferschtman, Simone Lamsma, Daria van den Bercken, Alisa Weilerstein and many others.


Education


2016 - 2019 BA classical voice, Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag, Rita Dams and Noa Frenkel (not completed).
2012 - 2016 BA composition, Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Willem Jeths and Wim Henderickx. Subsidiary subject piano by Emile Simonis.
2014 - 2016 Subsidiary subject classical singing by Maari Ernits.
Subsidiary subject cello by Maarten Mostert.
2011 - 2012 Preliminary year composition, Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Awards and competitions


BUMA Classical Award (2023)
Oeuvre prize for contemporary composers who have been active in the Dutch music sector for a long time. They connect modern movements with newly composed “serious” music, and his or her work comes to the attention of the bigger audience.

64th International Rostrum of Composers (2017)

The octet for strings, commissioned by Liza Ferschtman, has been selected for the 64th International Rostrum of Composers of the International Music Council.

Prinses Christina Compositie Concours (2015)
At 11 April Hooglied for soprano, guitar and percussion was performed in the Hague by Vanja Schoch, Eva Aukes and Tiffany Ku during the finale of the Prinses Christina Compositie Concours. The piece was awarded the second prize.

Alba Rosa Viëtor Composition Prize (2014)
At 28 september 2014, ‘Sprookjes 1, 2 & 3’ was performed by Merel Vercammen (violin) and Tobias Borsboom (piano). The piece was awarded both the first prize and the audience prize.

Donemus Aanmoedigingsprijs voor vrouwelijke componisten (2012)
(Donemus prize to encourage female composers)
Commission granted to write the piece ‘Stemmingswisselingen’ for piano, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, bassoon, guitar and bandoneon.

Koninklijk Conservatorium Prijs voor Jong Talent (2011)
(Royal Conservatory Award for Young Talent)
Granted after participation in the annual composition contest of the Dutch Wind Ensemble (Nederlands Blazers Ensemble).

Compositions and projects

2024

 

La Noche Oscura del Alma

For chamber choir and solo cello. Commissioned by the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam and performed by Johannes Moser and Cappella Amsterdam, conducted by Daniel Reuss.

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Serenade
For chamber orchestra. Commissioned and performed by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.

Ballade
For symphony orchestra. Commissioned by AVROTROS Vrijdagconcert and performed by the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu.

2023

Accordion Concerto
For solo accordion and symphony orchestra. Commissioned by Het Residentie Orkest Den Haag and ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien and performed by Vincent van Amsterdam and ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien conducted by Markus Poschner.

Suite V
For cello solo. Commissioned by Alisa Weilerstein.

Petit Morceau
For violin and piano. Commissioned by the Netherlands Violin Competition 2024. Performed by participants in the Iordens B Prize.

2022

Rhapsody for Piano and Strings
For piano and string orchestra. Commissioned by Daria van den Bercken and Keys to Music Foundation. Performed by Daria van den Bercken and Britten Sinfonia.

Lieder der Vergänglichkeit
For soprano, violin, flute, clarinet, cello and piano. Commissioned by Alois and Veronika Lageder and performed by Katrien Baerts and Het Collectief.

Wandrers Nachtlied
For (mezzo-)soprano and piano. Commissioned by Liszt Utrecht 2022. Performed by Bernadeta Astari and the participants of the International Fransz Liszt Piano Competition 2022

Violin Concerto
For solo violin and orchestra. Commissioned by the NTR ZaterdagMatinee and performed by Simone Lamsma and the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest conducted by Karina Canellakis.

Dear Professor Einstein
For violin, viola, violoncello, contrabass/bass guitar, vibraphone and chamber choir. Commissioned by Merel Vercammen and Stichting Resonance for Snaar Festival. Performed by the Netherlands Chamber Choir, Merel Vercammen, Lotus de Vries, Kalle de Bie, Ramon Lormans, David Murray and conducted by Boudewijn Jansen.

Ich hatte viel Bemümmernis: Hier ist ja lauter Nacht
For mezzo-soprano and string quartet. Commissioned by the Nijmeegse Stichting voor Kamermuziek and performed by Virpi Räisänen and Brodsky Quartet.

Stringquartet no. 1, Movement 2
For string quartet. Commissioned by Strijkkwartet Biënnale Amsterdam and performed by Belinfante Kwartet.

2021

Meander
For symphony orchestra. Commissioned and performed by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Lahav Shani.

2020

Een lied voor de maan
Chamber opera in three acts for five voices and six instruments. Based on the original story by Toon Tellegen. Commissioned by Nationale Opera & Ballet. Co-produced by Opera Zuid, Theaterakademie August Everding, Fundación Albéniz, La Monnaie/De Munt, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, European Network Opera Academies.

Het lied van de mol
For children’s choir, mezzo-soprano, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano. Adaptation of the original opera Een lied voor de maan. Commissioned by Nationale Opera & Ballet for Kinderkorenfestival 2020.

La canzone del piccolo uccellino
For piccolo and vibraphone or piano. Commissioned by Het Benelux Fluitconcours and premiered by Ilonka Kolthof.

Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis: Hier ist ja lauter Nacht
For mezzo-soprano and string quartet. Text adapted from J.S. Bach, Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21. Commissioned by the Nijmeegse Stichting voor Kamermuziek.

Fanfare to break the silence
For brass section and percussion. Commissioned by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

We’ll never let you down (first act)
Chamber opera about Jacqueline du Pré for baritone/actor, cello/actrice and piano. First act by Mathilde Wantenaar, second act by Max Knigge and third act by René Samson. Commissioned by Doris Hochscheid.

2019

Prélude à une nuit américaine
For symphony orchestra. Commissioned and performed by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor André de Ridder.

Dit zijn de bleeke, bleeklichte weken
For choir. Text by the Dutch poet Herman Gorter. Commissioned by the NTR Zaterdagmatinee and premiered by the Netherlands Radio Choir (Groot Omroepkoor) with conductor Philipp Ahmann.

Nachtmuziek
For string orchestra. Adaptation of the original Octet for double string quartet. Commissioned and performed by Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

Arrangement: Sweelinck, 6 variations ‘Mein junges Leben hat ein End’
For string quartet. Commissioned and performed by the soloists of Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

2018

Zomernacht

For five female voices a cappella. Commissioned by Frits Prior and performed by Wishful Singing at Podium Witteman, 4 November 2018. Text by the Dutch poet C.O. Jellema.

Damokles
For cello quartet. Commissioned by the Cello Biënnale 2018 and performed by Cellokwartet Ferschtman with Dmitry Ferschtman, Larissa Groeneveld, Ketevan Roinishvili and Willem Stam.

Spring in War-Time
For bariton and piano. Commissioned and performed by Raoul Steffani and Daan Boertien during their Dutch Classical Talent 2018 tour. Text by the American poet Sara Teasdale.

De stille weg

For five voices (SATBarB), piano and violin. Text by the Dutch poet Herman Gorter. Commissioned by Festival De Muze van Zuid and performed by singers from het Nederlands Kamerkoor, Laurens de Man (piano) and Eva Stegeman (violin) in Orgelpark.

A Haunted House
For chamber orchestra and solo soprano. Commissioned by Nesko 2018. Performed by soprano Jeannette van Schaik and Nesko (Nederlands Studenten Kamerorkest) conducted by Ivo Meinen. Text by Virginia Woolf.

2017

Octet
For double string quartet. Commissioned by Liza Ferschtman. Performed at TivoliVredenburg and the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, march 2017. Selected for the 64th International Rostrum of Composers of the International Music Council.

Fantasie voor viool en orkest
Violin concerto (20 min.) for Merel Vercammen and the Alkmaars Symfonie Orkest. Especially written for the combination of amateur orchestra and professional violinist.

Seufzer

For soprano and string quartet. Commissioned and performed by Johannette Zomer and the Tulipa consort.

Volle Maan
For soprano and piano. Poem by I.K. Bonset.

Sophia Liederen
For choir and organ. Commissioned by the EUG oecumenische gemeente Janskerk Utrecht.

Bach & Soefi
Commissioned by the Dutch Wind Ensemble (NBE). To be premiered 25 november in Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

2016

Personar
Chamber opera for solo soprano, choir and string quintet (vl, vl, vla, vc, cb). (20 min.) Commissioned by the Dutch National Opera. Premiered at the Opera Forward Festival.

2015

Dwalende melodie
Solo bass-clarinet piece. Commissioned by Fie Schouten for an album with new bass-clarinet music suited for students and amateurs.

∞ | Infinitus
For choir and organ. Part of the project ‘ Amsterdams Requiem’. Performed at Orgelpark, 25 April 2015 by choir Neon.

Wiegelied
For piano, cello and violin. Commissioned by Liza Ferschtman. Premiered at the Delft Chamber Music Festival 2015 by Liza Ferschtman, Ralph van Raat and Konstantin Heidrich.

Schemeringen in het avondland
For piano, cello and klarinet. Commissioned by the Erard Ensemble.

Het Verborgene
For string orchestra, harp, vibraphone and choir. Commissioned by Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ. Performed by Amsterdam Sinfonietta and Cappella Amsterdam.

2014

Gossamer
For Ensemble Five (five cellos), performed during the Composers’ Festival Amsterdam 2014.

Sprookjes 1, 2 & 3
‘Fairytales’ for violin and piano. Awarded the Alba Rosa Viëtor Composition Prize.

Hooglied
For soprano, guitar and percussion. Text by the Dutch writer P. F. Thomése. This piece won the second prize in the Prinses Christina Compositie Concours.

Schemering
For symphony orchestra. Performed by the Royal Flemish Philharmonic in Antwerp, Belgium.

2013

Vergeet ons niet
A thirty-minute performance made in collaboration with three young choreographers; Maartje Fijen, Floortje Doeksen and Floor Nobbe. Performed during the ‘Stukafest’ festival by the choreographers themselves, soprano Eveline Fijen and myself (improvisation on cello, voice and guitar).

Nooit meer zo’n dag als vandaag
Song for the children of IJburg, Amsterdam. Commissioned by the Dutch National Opera and performed by all the children (and their parents) of IJburg on the schoolyards as part of the project ‘Boom! Amsterdam is een opera’.

Alouette
Solo accordion piece for Sofie de Klerk.

2012

Vaar wel, Winschootse jongen
Song for guitar, cello, two voices and loop-station, inspired by the artist Bas Jan Ader who miraculously disappeared at sea. Written in collaboration with Brechtje van Dijk. Performed by Brechtje (voice and guitar) and me (voice and cello) during the Gaudeamus festival, 6 September 2012.

Muze
For male choir. Text by the Dutch poet Vasalis. Performed by De Fundo, directed by Lodewijk van der Ree.

Stemmingswisselingen
For piano, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, bassoon, guitar and bandoneon. Written after winning the Donemus Aanmoedigingsprijs voor vrouwelijke componisten.

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