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B’Rock & Olivia Vermeulen

Life and Death
Tue 7 Feb 20:00 - 21:45
Tue 7 Feb ’23
20:00 - 21:45

The great themes of life invariably lead to great art. And what themes could be more essential than life and death? The foundations of our existence, the mystery of life and death, have been the source of creative impulse for countless composers. In a well-balanced programme, together with B’Rock, you navigate between vivacious joy and intense sorrow, between exuberant delight and tranquil consolation, between – well – life and death. 

Programme

J.L. Bach: Wir wissen, so unser irdisches Haus
J.C. Bach: Ach dass ich Wassers g'nug hätte
Kalle Kalima: Lamento of Dry Rivers (commissioned by B’Rock)
J.S. Bach: Erbarme Dich, mein Gott, from St. Matthew Passion
J.C. Bach: Es ist nun aus mit meinem Leben
Kalle Kalima: Halbvoller Reue (commissioned by B’Rock)
J.S. Bach: Tief gebückt und voller Reue from Cantata «Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut»

intermission

Kalle Kalima: Remember Me: Quintuplet Variation, Guitar Variation & Overture, from: “Dido & Aeneas, Remembered”
H. Purcell: from “Dido & Aeneas”: Overture, Thy Hand Belinda, When I am laid, With drooping Wings
H. Purcell: Evening Hymn (Now that the sun hath veiled his light)
Kalle Kalima: May my mistakes make me
Th. Morley: I heard a voice from Heaven
J. Blow: from “Venus and Adonis”: A Ground, With solemn pomp, Mourn for thy servant

Top Dutch soprano Olivia Vermeulen shines in the most expressive arias from German and English Baroque music. Including a number of gems that never lose their shine, such as ‘When I am laid in earth’ from Dido and Aeneas, and ‘Tief gebückt und voller Reue’ from the cantata Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut. Not only father Bach, but several descendants of the rich composer family takes a turn. And with moving excerpts from operas and funeral music, John Blow and Thomas Morley – alongside the master Purcell – represent music from across the Channel.

Composer & Guitarist Kalle Kalima, successful creative partner of B’Rock in the 5* rated opera production “Dido & Aeneas Remembered”, joins into selected concerts of “Life & Death”. In addition to works composed for the opera production, B’Rock has commissioned new work linking the Bach sphere of the programme together, thus creating a musical journey through a sound world of transfiguration and death. 

Performers

B’Rock Orchestra & Vocal Consort
Olivia Vermeulen - mezzosopraan
Andreas Küppers - artistieke leiding