The Podcast: Riek Westerhof
In this episode, we talk to composer Riek Westerhof, whose work will be performed at
the third annual 
Parelduiken-concert on 13 November 2026, in de Herz in TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. Organised by Nieuw Geneco in collaboration with New Music NOW
and TivoliVredenburg, the project aims to bring forgotten compositions back to life. Composers were invited to nominate works that had not been performed for at least ten years but deserved to be heard again in a live concert.
A jury selected five works by Bart Spaan, Gerda Geertens, Corrie van Binsbergen, Huba de Graaff and Riek Westerhof. They will be performed by the ensemble Nieuw Amsterdams Peil, and the concert will also be filmed. This podcast features recordings of these rediscovered works, alongside music that has played an important role in Westerhof’s life and career.
Playlist
1. Private recording
Riek Westerhof: Samenspel, from Druppelen en intervallen
Riek Westerhof (piano)
3’57”
2. Private recording
Riek Westerhof: Contouren, from Klanken van Lombok (excerpt)
Riek Westerhof (field recording)
1’51”
3. CD: In a Landscape and Others
John Cage: In a Landscape
Mauro Castellano (piano)
9’05”
4. CD: Schubert
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D.960, IV. Allegro ma non troppo (excerpt)
Khatia Buniatishvili (piano)
6’12”
5. CD: Socrate
Erik Satie: Portrait of Socrates (The Banquet)
Violette Journeaux; Janine Lindenfelder; Paris Philharmonic Orchestra; René Leibowitz (conductor)
7’14”
Portraits of makers, composers and musicians in the Netherlands, based on their ‘desert island discs’ – the pieces of music they want the whole world to hear, and which play an important role in their work and lives.
Have a listen to our Playlist episodes, every Thursday at 12:00!
