Nieuw Ensemble - Johannes Debus

As a leading international company for contemporary music, the Nieuw Ensemble has for twenty years been a welcome guest at Ars Musica. In 2011 our northern neighbours will among other things present the Belgian premiere of a work from the Flemish kitchen, seasoned with the oriental spices. 'Mudra' is the final part in the seven-part 'Tantric Cycle' by the composer Wim Henderickx. He began it in 2004, after travelling to Katmandu, Nepal and the Himalayas. Whereas the penultimate part, 'Tejas', which was first performed in 2009 in deSingel, makes use of the exuberant energy of a full symphony orchestra, in 'Mudra' Henderickx immortalises his tantric inspiration in a more Spartan arrangement. Under the capable direction of the conductor Johannes Debus, the violinist Angel Gimeno navigates her way through Klas Torstensson's Violin Concerto. This Swedish composer began his impressive career as a cerebral member of the avant-garde, but has since found a more lyrical musical language in dramatic contrasts and orchestrations. The earliest twentieth-century work he references is the established 'Fünf Stücke für Orchestra' by Anton Webern.