Programma

De 9e (The 9th)

8 meimei 2025 - 22 meimei 2025

The ultimate symphony of peace and freedom: Beethoven's Ninth. Beethoven was a rebel & rockstar of his time: artistically independent, he pushed the boundaries of music and liked to mislead audiences and musicians. The ninth symphony was innovative by integrating a choir into the music, that was really daring! Not averse to a good dose of idiosyncrasy, NBE created their own and unique version of the famous 9th. With a choir with singers from all parts of the world and soloists and instrumentation from far and wide, Beethoven's dramatic and universal notes sound truly brotherly, connecting and like notes from all of us. The music is so compelling and inviting that it will be difficult not to sing along at the top of your lungs to the famous 'Ode to Joy'. The powerful message of unity and brotherhood will ring loud and resonate long after an evening full of emotion and connection. Based on an original idea by Bart Schneemann. https://youtu.be/nkiQ4icxqgw   Prior to each concert, an introduction to the performance is provided. The introduction is free, but for some venues, reservations may be required (see theater websites for more information).

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jongNBE & Holland Opera

Midsummer Nightmare

27 junjuni 2025 - 20 juljuli 2025

For the fifth time, jongNBE joins forces with Holland Opera for a unique opera experience on location. In and around Fort Rijnauwen in Bunnik this summer, they will perform Midsummer Nightmare - an adventurous mix of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Purcell's The Fairy Queen. In the enchanted forest, we see Oberon and Titania during a marital quarrel. A dearest friend has entrusted her child to Titania on her deathbed. Oberon is deadly jealous of Titania's attention to the child and orders Puck, the forest satyr, to fetch the sap of a magic plant. If this magical sap is dripped into someone's eyes, the person will fall in love with the first living creature he sees as soon as he wakes up. Midsummer Nightmare is not a classical opera, but a sensory experience in which the audience takes a special journey full of surprising encounters through the overwhelming nature and mysterious corridors of the fortress. Expect surprising musical arrangements by Jesse Passenier performed by our own youngNBE together with the singers of Holland Opera and the puppets of Duda Paiva. Venue: Fort Rijnauwen, Bunnik Music: Henry Purcell | Arrangements: Jesse Passenier Direction: Joke Hoolboom and Rianne Meboer Including Donij van Doorn, Oscar Verhaar, Rick Zwart, Josje Eijkenboom and jongNBE Prices young people up to 30 years and CJP tickets 30,- (in March with early booking discount 25,-) regular tickets 60,- (in March with early booking discount 50,- except for the avant premiere = 45,-) Info & tickets: www.hollandopera.nl Location Fort Rijnauwen Vossegatsedijk 5, Bunnik Wandelopera You will be welcomed on the forecourt of Fort Rijnauwen. Together we will go to the central point of the fort. After the overture, the audience splits into 4 small groups. At various places on and in the Fort, you will see and hear special scenes (windows). At these windows there are a number of seats for people who cannot stand for long. After the 4 windows, everyone comes together for the grande finale. The paths are partly paved, but the walk also goes partly through the grass around and on the Fort. Please bear this in mind in terms of footwear. The total walking route will be about 2 kilometres. Bad weather scenario If the opera is cancelled due to force majeure or bad weather conditions, the performance will be rescheduled to the next Thursday. You are not entitled to a refund. jongNBE The jongNBE is an ensemble of top talents from the Dutch conservatoires. The ensemble consists of ten musicians (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion and double bass) and is coached by the experienced musicians of the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble. Read more about the jongNBE here.

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50 years KWAKU summer festival

12 juljuli 2025

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kwaku Summer Festival. In 2014, the NBE traveled through the inlands of Suriname, ending with a grand concert in Paramaribo in collaboration with the National School of Folk Music and artist Marcel Pinas. Now more than ten years after this special journey, we are very honored to perform at the Kwaku Summer Festival anniversary year. The NBE shares the stage with Dutch-Surinamese jazz diva Denise Jannah, rapper Scrappy W and dancer Gregory Shaggy. Don't miss it, immerse yourself in the mix of the spirited sounds of Kwaku musicians and the NBE at the most multicultural music festival in the Netherlands. The Kwaku Summer Festival began in 1975 as a small-scale soccer tournament among the high-rise buildings of the Bijlmermeer, for the youth who could not go on vacation and thus still had a nice summer. Not much later, soccer teams from all over the Netherlands traveled to the Vogeltjeswei in the Bijlmer, not only to enjoy the often exciting competition but also to meet each other while enjoying bami, blood sausage, fladder and a wide range of Surinames music. The festival has developed into a great happening and a major multicultural event with more than 150,000 visitors from Amsterdam and all over the Netherlands. The festival brings cultures together with performances, dance, film, music and, of course, soccer and culinary delights. This production is made possible with the support of Het Cultuurfonds.     

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Waanzinnig West Jubileum Concert

19 sepseptember 2025

It's time to party! Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary – and Podium Mozaïek is 20 years old. Reason enough for a grand anniversary concert in the heart of Amsterdam-West. With Waanzinnig West, Podium Mozaïek, together with the NBE and Theater Rast, presents a theatrical ode to the people, stories and voices of this special district. Stories from West Theatre maker Ayşegül Karaca and spoken word artist Luan Buleshkaj went into conversation with local residents, entrepreneurs and artists. They collected stories that reveal West's DNA - powerful, diverse and sometimes vulnerable. In the supporting act, these stories are shared in spoken word and music by youngNBE. Then, together with Ayşegül Karaca, Bahghi and Luan Buleshkaj, the NBE will play a festive evening concert with music, stories and poetry. An ode to a neighbourhood on the move - from past to future. About Waanzinnig West Waanzinnig West is a series of concerts, stories, images, podcasts, theatrical city talks and educational projects around 750 years of Amsterdam. The series illuminates the soul of Amsterdam-West and its residents - young and old, newcomers and established - focusing on their stories, perspectives and future. The jubilee concert in Erasmus Park is the grand finale of our celebration. In a place where everyone is welcome, together with local artists and storytellers, we will present a performance that connects, amazes and stays with you. The stories portray how residents experience their neighbourhood - with themes such as feeling at home, change, diversity, gentrification and solidarity. How do we live together in these new “roaring twenties”? Insane West invites encounters, wonder and connection. Date: Friday 19 September 2025 Location: Erasmuspark, Amsterdam Entrance: free 17:30 - 19:00 | Preview programme With youngNBE, Ayşegül Karaca and Luan Buleshkaj 19:30 - 21:00 | Main programme With NBE, Ayşegül Karaca, Bahghi, Luan Buleshkaj and more

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Dag van de Vrede (International Day of Peace)

21 sepseptember 2025 - 24 sepseptember 2025

In 1981, the United Nations declared September 21 as the International Day of Peace with the aim of creating a worldwide day of ceasefire and non-violence. The Day of Peace is an annual event organised by the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble in collaboration with TivoliVredenburg, PHIL Haarlem and the Refugee Foundation. The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble invites guest artists from various artistic disciplines who have recently, or some time ago, fled from war zones around the world. Together, we celebrate peace on this special evening filled with music that moves and unites. Benoit de Gryse, Head of Programs & Policy at the Refugee Foundation, says, "Through the universal language of visual arts and music, together with the Dutch Wind Ensemble, we put people fleeing literally and figuratively in the spotlight. In doing so, we highlight the worrying current situation while also showcasing the courage and resilience with which displaced people do everything in their power to continue their lives despite the circumstances." The guest artists will be announced at a later time. The International Day of Peace is made possible by:        

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Vientos Flamencos

9 oktoktober 2025 - 19 oktoktober 2025

Twelve years after the Historias de Viento programme, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and Flamenco Biënnale Nederland are joining forces again. This time together with flamenco singer David Lagos, from Jerez de la Frontera, a city known for its rich flamenco tradition. With great expressive freedom, Lagos moves inside and outside the traditional singing style cante jondo. Together with the NBE, he performs a programme that both embraces the flamenco tradition and explores new musical paths. The NBE enters new flamenco territory with compositions by Florian Magnus Maier, in which flamenco ingeniously intertwines with classical and metal. In addition, De Blazers will play contemporary works by guitarist Tino van der Sman and Lagos' own repertoire. Dancer Úrsula López accompanies the music with rousing rhythmic improvisations, making her debut at the Biennale. Prior to each concert, an introduction to the performance is provided. The introduction is free, but for some venues, reservations may be required (see theater websites for more information). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv9ql4GurdA

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Young Composers Competition

Showcases

30 oktoktober 2025 - 2 novnovember 2025

Nothing better than creating your own music and performing it with top musicians! All young composers who want to do more with their music and are maximum 18 years old can apply for the annual NBE Young Composers Competition. Whether you sing, rap, make beats or compose on your instrument - anything goes, as long as you make it up yourself. During the Young Composers Competition, participants receive guidance from experienced composers and arrangers, meet other young musicians, gain stage experience and have their work performed by top musicians. The competition is a springboard for many serious composing talents in the Netherlands and produces beautiful new compositions every year. You can apply for the Young Composer's Competition until 12 October 2025. SHOWCASES During the Showcases, the regional preliminary rounds of the NBE Young Composers Competition, participants get the chance to show what they have to offer live for the first time. A casual yet serious moment to present their piece of music, song, rap or other musical form to the audience and the jury. The jury will choose winners from each region who will go on to the Composers Weekend. These participants will be guided by an arranger, who will help them create an arrangement of their composition for the NBE. The Showcases will take place from 30 October to 2 November 2025, the exact dates and locations will be announced later.

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A Firi Fu Fri

25 novnovember 2025 - 8 decdecember 2025

Fifty years of Surinamese independence: that calls for music that touches you deep inside. De Blazers and their guests take you to the colourful heart of Suriname, where rhythms, melodies and traditions come together in a musical celebration of freedom and solidarity. With A Firi Fu Fri - The Feeling of Freedom - styles and cultures melt together in a musical melting pot. Classical sounds meet modern rhythms, and everything moves, breathes and vibrates. A Firi Fu Fri is an ode to 50 years of independence, but also a musical journey that explores the feeling of freedom, inspiration and connection. Including close harmony group Black Harmony and singers Denise Jannah and Jeannine la Rose*. Celebrate it, feel it, live it! *Jeannine performs at the performances until 28 November, Denise from 30 November. There will be an introduction before the performance. The introduction is free, but at some theatres you need to book (see websites theatres for more info).

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