Beauty and refinement: that is what all the works share in this programme that fluctuates between atmospheric contemplation and exuberant joy. Browsing through the oeuvres of several major composers of the early Baroque in Germany (Franz Tunder, Matthias Weckmann, Johann Theile), the leading Belgian ensemble InAlto, led by cornett player Lambert Colson, has selected a treasury of compositions: sometimes intimate, sometimes virtuoso, always moving. Heinrich Schütz probably the most important composer in Germany before Bach occupies a place of honour. This is the early Baroque in all its diversity, with refined vocal and instrumental expression: InAlto’s CD recording was rightly awarded a Diapason d’Or de l’Année 2017.

14 December, 2018 21:00 -- amuz

An ambitious project: that is the very least you can say about this six-part retelling of the birth of Christ. Johann Sebastian Bach’s soloists, choir and orchestra all exult in this joyful event and sweep you up in festive jubilation, only to evoke heartfelt emotion or profound humility in the recitatives, arias and chorales.

When Bach decided to write a large-scale oratorio for the Christmas season in 1734-35, he did not look for inspiration so much in the relatively limited tradition of compositions specifically for Christmas as in his own great Passion oratorios. This is why the elements that are so typical of Bach’s passions can also be found in the Weihnachtsoratorium. Three layers of text – the Bible story, Lutheran chorales and newly-written texts – are combined with an unprecedented variety of musical forms.

AMUZ treats you to a complete performance of the Weihnachtsoratorium: exceptionally, the concert will include all six cantatas. Expect the very best music, a cast of leading soloists and a performance by Il Gardellino, led by Peter Van Heyghen, whose astonishing precision is matched only by its emotional intensity: a Christmas present to yourself that you will never forget!

16 December, 2018 11:00 -- amuz

In 1905, Michaël Welte was the first person in Europe to put a high-quality music reproduction system on the market that was capable of capturing a pianist playing. Many famous composers and pianists of the age realised that this would make it possible for people to hear their work at home. A century later, you can still enjoy the music – and even the style of playing – of Edvard Grieg, Gabriël Fauré, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Alexander Scriabin and Serge Prokofiev. A unique experience!

(Dutch spoken)

01 February, 2019 21:00 -- amuz

Pianola player Max Lakeman takes you on a musical journey through the history of the pianola. He brings the sound of pianists a hundred years ago to life with the instruments made by the firm Welte in Germany, and Duo-Art and Ampico in America, and shows you historic images from the pianolas glory days.

(Dutch spoken)

02 February, 2019 11:00 -- amuz

Quite a few composers realised that the pianola offered unexplored possibilities, now that the limitations of ten or twenty fingers no longer stood in their way. You will hear work by Igor Stravinsky, George Antheil, Paul Hindemith and Ernst Toch, Tom Johnson and Conlon Nancarrow, played on the large Bösendorfer grand piano with an integrated Ampico A system from Jürgen Hockers collection, and work arranged especially for the pianola by Marc-André Hamelin and John Williams (Aeolian 88 note). Yvo Verschoor, the director of Geelvinck Pianola Museum, will introduce and comment on the work (in Dutch).

02 February, 2019 21:00 -- amuz

Film concert pianist Yvo Verschoor illustrates the special relationship between silent film and the pianola, and lets us hear film music written especially for the pianola, alternating it with improvisations as was the custom a hundred years ago. Verschoor plays a Frau Blüthner, his travelling concert grand dating from 1897. The programme includes excerpts from Ballet Mécanique and Tour au Large, alternating with technical and romantic highlights of the age of silent film.

(Dutch spoken)

03 February, 2019 11:00 -- de-studio