Quodlibet by Joey Roukens in the program ‘Het Visioen van Berlage’ by the Berlage Saxophone Quartet. 

Cabaret performer and writer Vincent Bijlo is the great-grandson of H.P. Berlage. From him, he inherited the belief that art should speak to the world we live in — a conviction shared by the Berlage Saxophone Quartet. Together, they join forces for a new production that reflects on the ideals of past and present.

With music by, among others, Bach, Debussy and Roukens, spoken word by Vincent Bijlo, and visuals by Jurjen Alkema, the Pantheon rises on stage — inviting reflection on the role of art in society.

What happens when music and architecture meet? In The Vision of Berlage, the Berlage Saxophone Quartet presents an inspiring tribute to their namesake Hendrik Berlage, who famously stated that “architecture is frozen music, and music is liquid architecture.”

The musicians of the Berlage Saxophone Quartet first heard Vincent Bijlo tell the story of the Pantheon in a broadcast of Panorama Zondag on NPO Klassiek. “Over the years, we had come up with all kinds of ideas for a tribute to Berlage, such as performing concerts in his buildings, but without ever having a real eureka moment,” says saxophonist Eva van Grinsven. “And then suddenly there was Vincent, speaking about Berlage’s ideological ideas.”

Together, Vincent Bijlo and the musicians take you on a journey through the fascinating story of the never-realised ‘Pantheon of Humanity’: a dream of a temple at the heart of Europe, symbolising unity and connection — a visionary idea that feels strikingly relevant today.