Guest curator Festival Dag in de Branding

"She is one of the most remarkable composers of the young generation: Mathilde Wantenaar. As guest curator of this edition of Festival Dag in de Branding, Mathilde has put together an exciting programme of music she wants to bring to our attention. On 15 and 16 March 2024, Dag in de Branding presents six events, including performances by ensembles like the Quatuor Bozzini from Canada and the Spaceship Ensemble from The Hague as well as Mathilde’s latest composition, performed by the Residentie Orkest and accordionist Vincent van Amsterdam.

Mathilde Wantenaar makes music that is often lyrical (she also studied singing) and always tells a story. She draws emphatically on tradition, as do many of her contemporaries. Mathilde believes it is important to showcase their music in the festival. What do these young composers have in common? And what does 'innovation' in music actually mean?

Also in this edition, a pop concert-like show by the wayward SMASH.duo that challenges the classical recital format, an appearance of YouTube phenomenon Tantacrul and the presentation of Yannis Kyriakides's latest work for string quartet and electronics. Yet again, Festival Dag in de Branding offers not only fresh notes but also food for thought."

Ballade for orchestra premiere

On 8 March, the premiere of Ballade for Orchestra took place in TivoliVredenburg (Utrecht), performed by the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu as part of a programme that also included Sibelius’ Violin Concerto and Nielsen’s fifth symphony.

The concert was recorded by NPO Klassiek and can be streamed here.

Dennis Weijers from De Volkskrant wrote the following review:

“Not one, not two, but three highlights last Friday in TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht. The Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, led by the Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu, played a programme consisting of Carl Nielsen’s Fifth Symphony, the Violin Concerto by Sibelius – starring Alina Ibragimova – and a premiere of the Dutch composer Mathilde Wantenaar.

Her brand-new Ballade is typically Wantenarian: eclectic, free from pretention, and saturated with French nostalgia. You find yourself in a Parisian salon during the fin de siècle, a recording studio in pre-war New Orleans or a slum in Buenos Aires. Charming trombones meet silky-soft violins, but Ballade remains somewhat fragmented and never really breaks free. During the groovy moments you wish The Buddy Rich Band on stage since the classically-rehearsed jazzy rhythms stagger like a new-born baby goat on its stiff little legs.”

Read the entire review here.

Interview with Markus Poschner about Mathilde Wantenaar

Interview with conductor Markus Poschner on the occasion of the world premiere of Mathilde Wantenaar's Accordeon Concerto. After the final rehearsal, Mathilde Wantenaar was awarded the Buma Classical Award 2023, "an 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."

The world premiere of the Accordeon Concerto took place at the Konzerthaus Wien on 8 December 2023, performed by Vincent van Amsterdam and ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien conducted by Markus Poschner.

The Dutch premiere of the Accordeon Concerto will take place at the Muziekgebouw Amsterdam on 14 March 2024, performed by Vincent van Amsterdam and Het Residentie Orkest, conducted by Anja Bihlmaier.