Rituals, premiere march 2024.
By making connections with the worlds of contemporary art and electronic music, NEuE wants to appeal to new generations of audiences.
For Rituals, NEuE joins forces with artist Nick Verstand (MTV, Stedelijk Museum, SXSW, Björk). With Steve Reich’s Double Sextet and a new composition by DJ Salvador Breed, the ensemble will create an immersive audiovisual experience. The hypnotic power of Steve Reich’s music is amplified by Verstand’s light installations and surround sound design by Salvador Breed.
New European Ensemble, DEFRAME and Kunstmuseum Den Haag combined the power of illusion, music and images in “Metamorfosen: A Musical Journey into the World of MC Escher”. Performances took place on February, 23rd and 24th, 2023, in the Kunstmuseum in The Hague, during the exhibition “Escher – Andere Wereld”.
“a brilliant concept, brilliantly excecuted” – Arts Talk Magazine
The work of Arvo Pärt has been a central part of NEuE’s repertoire for many years. This program showcased his major ensemble and chamber works alongside works of two Estonian composers of the younger generation Pärt Uusberg and Rico Esso Maimets. Featured works included Fratres, Tabula Rasa, In Spe and work by Pärt Uusberg and Riho Esko Maimets.
“Generous and imaginative performances…beautiful,
penetrating and unmistakable in the free spirit of Pärt.” – De Nieuwe Muze
First performed March 24, 2022, Nieuwe Kerk, Den Haag
The world renowned Indian classical percussionist BC Manjunath and NEuE joined forces in Pulse: Concerto for Indian Percussionist and Ensemble by composer Ned McGowan, premiered at the Gaudeamus Festival 2022. Manjunath is lauded for his virtuosity the world over and McGowan’s music bridges the world’s of Indian classical and Western contemporary music with ease.
OPERA2DAY and the New European Ensemble made a journey to the many realities of The ingenious gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha. This was a brand-new opera based on the well-known Spanish novel by Cervantes with new music including a main role for medieval music from various countries and cultures.
Strange News
Premiere November 2021
The New European Ensemble presented Strange News. Strange News is a gripping interdisciplinary piece that focuses on the lives and fates of child soldiers in our time. Ugandan actor Arthur Kisenyi tells the story of a young child soldier, his experiences and his eventual return to a peaceful society. The ensemble collaborates with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to clarify connections between the piece and the work of the court.
This story is illuminated with poignant and versatile music by the Norwegian composer Rolf Wallin. Film images illustrate the African context of the story. In addition to Strange News, NEuE presents new work by the composer Florentijn Boddendijk from The Hague, who is inspired by the importance of international criminal law.
Forgotten Friends – the unfolding drama in Belarus
Music for Belarus was a movement created to unite musicians around the world in order to inform society about the situation in Belarus and generate financial support for Belarusian political prisoners and their families by organising concerts. The concert took place on January 23 2022 at De Rode Hoed in Amsterdam.
A panel discussed the current situation in Belarus. The work of many Belarusian artists, composers and musicians was banned in their own country. New European Ensemble therefore played works by Yaskou, Podgaiskaya, Voronov en Omelchuck.
1984
New European Ensemble presented the premiere of the 1984 performance with whistleblower Edward Snowden and actor Boris van der Ham, based on George Orwell’s book. Estonian composer Mihkel Kerem wrote an ensemble piece inspired by the novel for NEuE.
Film maker Gijs Besseling made an accompanying film in which musicians from the ensemble portray Orwell’s story linked to their role in the piece. Narrations from Orwell’s novel are acted by Boris van der Ham with commentary by Edward Snowden.
“A massively powerful piece…the playing is superb…a superb telling of Orwell’s story.” -Musical America
“A powerful evocation of the dystopian themes of Orwell’s novel places the orchestra score at its heart…gripping and compelling.” **** Planet Hugillt