This year, the Netherlands celebrates 80 years of freedom. After so much time, this seems self-evident, but now that tensions in the world are increasing, we realize how fragile this freedom is. In this concert one will hear the story of two composers, Leo Smit and his talented student Dick Kattenburg. During the Second World War, they were increasingly oppressed. Their music was banned and they were eventually both killed by the Nazis. Eighty years after the liberation, we are shedding new light on their music. As a tribute, there will be performed the world premiere of a recently discovered work for violin and piano by Dick Kattenburg – a moving testament to a talent that was silenced too early.

The concert is part of the Festival Klassiek achter de Duinen in The Hague (18-21 September).

Program:

Leo Smit – Sextet for piano and winds

Leo Smit – From Flute Sonata: part 2, Lento

Leo Smit – Suite for piano (fragments)

Leo Smit – From Trio for clarinet, viola and piano: part 1, Allegretto

Dick Kattenburg – From Flute Sonata: part 2, Intermezzo

Dick Kattenburg – Blues & Lied ohne Worte (arr. for ensemble)

Dick Kattenburg – Escapades for two violins

Dick Kattenburg – Suite for violin and piano (world premiere)