Should you continue making music in a war, even if fellow musicians are forbidden to perform? And does music itself – apart from its creator – have the right to exist or can music still be contaminated 80 years later? Or is it unheard of to play and should therefore beautiful music no longer be heard? A musical story about right and wrong and the gray area in between, about exclusion and persecution, but above all about the power of music, even in the darkest periods of life.

In the concertos by Leo Smit and Henk Badings, the young violists from the Dutch Youth String Orchestra (NJSO) and young musicians from the Conservatory of Amsterdam present themselves as soloists. Also in other works, members of the orchestra perform in smaller settings as soloists.

In addition to the two viola concertos, the NJSO celebrates Amsterdam’s musical life with a selection of Dutch (Amsterdam) composers. From the 18th century Amsterdam pub violinist and composer Pieter Hellendaal, to the influential conductor and composer from the 19th century Johannes van Bree. From Sweelinck – the patriarch of Dutch music – to the contemporary Amsterdam composer Chiel Meijering. With music by Dick Kattenburg (a friend of Leo Smit) and the lyrics and music of the astute music critic and essayist Willem Pijper. 

(Un)heard of!

From oblivion: NJSO presents composers from WWII:

Leo Smit

Concerto for Viola and String Orchestra

Henk Badings

Concerto for Viola and String Orchestra 

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

Mein junges Leben hat ein End

(arr. W. van Klaveren)

Pieter Hellendaal

Concerto Grosso No.4

– Intermission –

Johannes van Bree

Allegro for Four String Quartets

Chiel Meijering

The ultimate workout for Double Bass and String Orchestra

Willem Pijper

Sonata for Solo Violin

Dick Kattenburg

Escapades for Two Violins

TBD

New commissioned work