Composers and Musicians of the Netherlands

In this episode, we speak to composer Gerda Geertens, one of the composers whose work will be performed as part of the Pearldiving project, at a lunchtime concert on 13 November 2026 at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. The Pearldiving project is an initiative by Nieuw Geneco, in collaboration with New Music NOW and TivoliVredenburg, made possible by a donation from the Buma Social Fund. Its aim is to bring compositions that have not been performed for at least ten years back to life in a concert. Composers submitted their suggestions, and a jury selected five works by five different composers from the many submissions. These works will be performed by, among others, the Nieuw Amsterdams Peil ensemble. A recording of the concert will also feature in this podcast at a later date.

The composers whose works will be performed are Corrie van Binsbergen, Huba de Graaff, Riek Westerhof, Bart Spaan and, of course, Gerda Geertens.

In the final part of this hour, we will also hear composer Bart Spaan, whose work will feature extensively in the next episode.

Playlist

1. Own recording
   Gerda Geertens: Slinger, for string trio
   3’18”
2. CD: Tre Voci
   Sofia Gubaidulina: Garten von Freuden und Traurigkeiten
   Kim Kashkashian, Sivan Magen & Marina Piccinini
   3’54”
3. CD: Saariaho
   Kaija Saariaho: Du Cristal
   Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen
   6’22”
4. Own recording
   Gerda Geertens: Point of View, for solo accordion
   Helena Sousa Estevez
   6’56”
5. YouTube
   Anestis Logothetis: Vibration
   Greta Vermeulen [Vermeulen-fluit]
   4’02”
6. YouTube
   Anestis Logothetis: Globus
   Greta Vermeulen [Vermeulen-fluit]
   2’17”

Muziekmakers der Nederlanden is a podcast by New Music Now and the Concertzender. Tune in to the playlist episodes of Muziekmakers der Nederlanden every Thursday at 12 noon on the Concertzender. It features portraits of composers, musicians and other music-makers in the Netherlands, based on their ‘desert island discs’ – the pieces of music they would most like to share with the world, and which have played an important role in their work and lives.