Louis Andriessen: May

MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2020
8:15 AM

Daniel Reuss/Capella Amsterdam/Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century
NPO Radio 4 Live Stream

Free
https://www.nporadio4.nl/evenementen/extra-concert-de-nieuwste-andriessen

I just learned the extremely sad news that Louis Andriessen, certainly one of the best composers now living — sort of Stravinsky meets Reich for acerbic fun in the Netherlands — is suffering from dementia and that his piece receiving its world premiere at the Concertgebouw tomorrow (without an audience), May, will be his last. As if that isn't enough to get you up at 8 AM on a Saturday, the rest of the program consists of Josquin des Prez, the Renaissance giant whom Andriessen just loves (as do I, for that matter), and Mozart's G-Minor Symphony No. 40 (you know, the one with the really nervous opening). And it's all being performed by the Capella Amsterdam, as good as a chorus as there is right now, under the direction of Daniel Reuss, most certainly among the very best choral directors now working — with the instrumental parts being played by no less than the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century! I'm going to be late to the Greenmarket for this!

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Koffie. I guess the Dutch would also have pancakes.