At the crossroads of swinging avant-garde and beautiful song art, the Italian master Luciano Berio composed a moving tour-de-force. Sixty years ago, Berio completed his legendary Folk Songs, especially for his muse and wife, the American mezzo-soprano Cathy Berberian. In eight songs, Berio traverses the folk song art of as many countries and regions: from the USA to Armenia, and from Italy to France.

Soprano and artist-in-residence of the festival, Elisabeth Hetherington, is now taking up the challenge together with the musicians of the DoelenEnsemble. Hetherington is praised in both baroque and opera circles and in the contemporary music circuit for her beautiful, crystal-clear timbre. She is the winner of the Dutch Music Prize 2024. Together with the DoelenEnsemble, she throws herself with dedication into Berio’s temperamental Folk Songs. Impressive traditional songs such as Black is the Colour and Motettu de Tristura from Sardinia will be performed. 

During the concert, Berio’s famous cycle will be accompanied by an exciting selection of other folk songs, because Berio himself was far from finished: “I have an impossible dream, even though I know it cannot be realized: I would like to create a unity between folk music and our music – a real, observable, understandable continuity between age-old, popular music that is so close to everyday work and our music.” 

In addition to Berio’s masterpiece, songs by Aftab Darvishi, Percy Grainger and Béla Bartók will be performed. The Dutch DoelenEnsemble, founded in 1990, is committed to unheard, contemporary music. For example, during November Music 2021 they performed work by the American minimalist Julius Eastman. For Elisabeth Hetherington, this is the last concert of her residency this year at November Music. A more beautiful conclusion is unthinkable.

Programme

Luciano Berio – Black is the Colour
Anonymous – Maria durch eind Dornwald ging
Luciano Berio – I wonder as I wander
Luciano Berio – Loosin yelav
Camille Saint-Saens – Carnival of the Animals: IX. The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods
Luciano Berio – Rossignolet du bois
Stan Rogers – The Maid On The Shore
Luciano Berio – A la femminisca
Percy Grainger – Lincolnshire Posy: VI. The Lost Lady Found
Luciano Berio – La donna ideale
Luciano Berio – Ballo
Béla Bartók – Romanian Folk Dances in Janoska Style: VI. Maruntel
Luciano Berio – Malorous qu’o uno fenno
George Gurdjieff – Sayyid Chant and Dance
Luciano Berio – Motettu de Tristura
Aftab Darvishi – Goriz & Gozar
Luciano Berio – Lo fiolaire
Luciano Berio – Azerbaijan love song

That concert is part of the November Music Festival.