Panorama de Leeuw XXXVIII, 3 January 2018: Administrative low point (repeat of 2 March 2016).
Thea Derks is following the musical career of Reinbert de Leeuw on the basis of her biography Reinbert de Leeuw, mens of melodie.
In episode 37 the integral performance of ‘Antigone’ sounded. This one-act play of Ton de Leeuw after the eponymous tragedy of Sophocles had its premiere during the Holland Festival in 1993. Reinbert de Leeuw (not related) conducted a male and a mixed choir and the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra; soloist was the mezzo-soprano Martine Mahé.
Today a repeat of the broadcast of 2 March 2016, wherein Reinbert de Leeuw performs music of three other Dutch composers. We start with the pioneering work ‘De Staat’ of Louis Andriessen from 1976, who, for this reason, had himself inspired by texts of Plato about the whether or not inflammatory character of music. This piece will be performed, together with ‘Der Tribun’ of Mauricio Kagel, by I solisti del Vento conducted by Etienne Siebens in the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ on 6 January 2018.
With his radical, kicking ‘De Staat’ Andriessen broke through internationally and it stood at the basis of the so-called ‘Haagse School’. Its premiere was performed by the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and conducted by Lucas Vis; one of the two pianists was Reinbert de Leeuw.
Not long thereafter he succeeds Andriessen on behalf of the employees as board member of publisher Donemus. The work floor is outraged, because head documentation Nico Schuyt has a full time appointment while he only works half time. Although Reinbert is appointed as representative of the employees, he sides with Schuyt and turns with him against fellow board member Robert Heppener, who supports the decisions on behalf of the Geneco.
The conflict only knows losers. Schuyt bitterly takes an early retirement; Heppener isn’t able to compose a single note on paper due to stress; Reinbert is relieved of his function by the employees. The ‘Kwestie-Schuyt’ signifies an administrative low point for him.
If you buy the biography through this link, you will support de Concertzender for free.
1. Louis Andriessen: De Staat.
Nederlands Blazers Ensemble conducted by Lucas Vis.
2. Nico Schuyt. From ‘Quatuor de ballet’: finale.
David Scott, trumpet. Pastiche Ensemble.
3. Robert Heppener. Four Songs on Poems by Ezra Pound.
Susan Narucki, soprano. Sepp Grotenhuis, piano.
Composition and presentation: Thea Derks.
Recording technique: Ger van den Beuken.
