Echoes of Van Gogh, for Wubkje Kuindersma and West Australian Ballet
27 April 2023
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As night falls, Vincent Van Gogh’s eclectic creations will come to life in dance. See Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma’s vision of the famous painter's tumultuous life take the stage for the first time in this passionate and complex new ballet.
Echoes of Van Gogh broadly follows Vincent van Gogh's development as an artist. However, it is not a biographical portrait. The aim is to share his personal fascinations: nature, painting, colors, people, with the audience. We focus on his inner need to express himself, the tenacious will to develop as an artist, and his longing to be part of a greater whole.
Even though Van Gogh's personality is extraordinary and specific, the ballet deals with universal human questions: identity, a place in the world, a personal destiny.
The makers see Van Gogh as an eternal outsider, who longs to be an insider. He wants to be together with fellow artists, women, and the simple, hardworking people he loves to portray.
He feels a strong connection with the poor farmers who work the earth: sow and mow. Bloom in spring, harvest in summer. Sheaves of corn and hay bales. The bareness of the fields lying fallow in winter. The full life cycle.
His is a permanent fever to create. As an artist, he has the inner conviction that his time will come, but during his lifetime recognition is not forthcoming. When he decides to dedicate himself to his art, he is already 27 years old. In the following decade he literally creates thousands of works, mainly landscapes, portraits, and paintings of flowers and trees.
Premiere: 8-23 September, in His Majesty's Theatre, by West Australian Ballet and West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma
Set & Costume Designer Tatyana Van Walsum
Lighting Designer Jon Buswell
Dramaturge Janine Brogt
Music Anthony Fiumara
Conductor Jessica Gethin
As night falls, Vincent Van Gogh’s eclectic creations will come to life in dance. See Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma’s vision of the famous painter's tumultuous life take the stage for the first time in this passionate and complex new ballet.
Echoes of Van Gogh broadly follows Vincent van Gogh's development as an artist. However, it is not a biographical portrait. The aim is to share his personal fascinations: nature, painting, colors, people, with the audience. We focus on his inner need to express himself, the tenacious will to develop as an artist, and his longing to be part of a greater whole.
Even though Van Gogh's personality is extraordinary and specific, the ballet deals with universal human questions: identity, a place in the world, a personal destiny.
The makers see Van Gogh as an eternal outsider, who longs to be an insider. He wants to be together with fellow artists, women, and the simple, hardworking people he loves to portray.
He feels a strong connection with the poor farmers who work the earth: sow and mow. Bloom in spring, harvest in summer. Sheaves of corn and hay bales. The bareness of the fields lying fallow in winter. The full life cycle.
His is a permanent fever to create. As an artist, he has the inner conviction that his time will come, but during his lifetime recognition is not forthcoming. When he decides to dedicate himself to his art, he is already 27 years old. In the following decade he literally creates thousands of works, mainly landscapes, portraits, and paintings of flowers and trees.
Premiere: 8-23 September, in His Majesty's Theatre, by West Australian Ballet and West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma
Set & Costume Designer Tatyana Van Walsum
Lighting Designer Jon Buswell
Dramaturge Janine Brogt
Music Anthony Fiumara
Conductor Jessica Gethin
Orange Mountain Music CD Release: Fiumara/Glass
08 December 2022
Five years ago I made a concert program for Slagwerk Den Haag with new arrangements of music by Philip Glass and new compositions of my own. Slagwerk Den Haag (The Hague Percussion) asked me to put together a concert program for Glass’s 80 birthday.
Inspired by the rhythmic patterns, the long lines and the modality in Glass’ early music, I arranged some of Glass’s works for this virtuoso percussion group. And in the spirit of these early minimal works, I composed Vitrious Body, as my percussive tribute to Philip Glass.
I am happy and proud that this music is being released today on Glass’s label Orange Mountain Music. First on all streaming platforms, and in the beginning of next year as a physical CD. The gorgeous cover art is by Darien Brito.
December 9, 2022 is the official date for the streaming release. The physical release will take place in Spring 2023, with promotion concerts by Slagwerk Den Haag.
Solo Concert in WIllem Twee Toonzaal
30 June 2022
I Saw the Tremor of the Sea is de titel van het soloconcert dat ik op 30 juni presenteer in de Willem Twee Toonzaal in Den Bosch.
Tijd en herhaling hebben me altijd gefascineerd. De afgelopen paar jaren leek de klok af en toe stil te staan. Geen fysieke ontmoetingen, geen mensen op straat, geen vliegverkeer boven je hoofd: als ik terugkijk op die periode lijkt het alsof alle gebeurtenissen los van de tijd plaatsvonden—alsof het tikken van de klok tot stilstand kwam en stolde in de ruimte.
Natuurlijk wordt tijd anders beleefd door verschillende wezens. In onze oren zingen walvissen gigantisch uitgestrekte klanken, maar misschien ervaren zij hun eindeloze roep wel als een enkele lettergreep. Of neem vogels—we horen ze hoog en snel kwetteren, omdat hun tijd sneller lijkt te gaan die van ons. Misschien horen zij onze spreektaal wel zoals wij walvisgeluid ervaren. En misschien is het goed om hier soms bij stil te staan.
Instrumenten
Buchla Music Easel
Elektron Octatrack MKII
Tascam Portastudio 414
Soma Cosmos
Strymon BigSky
Embrace, for Rianne Wilbers
17 March 2021
Performance - Rianne Wilbers
Composer - Anthony Fiumara
Camera & Edit - Stefan Martens, Jornt Duyx
Audio - Jornt Duyx
Dress - Dauvia Nijenhuis
Rianne and I asked our followers on social media: what do you think of when you hear the word 'Embrace'. Out of these replies I distilled these lyrics:
Embrace yourself.
Embrace all that is you.
Embrace the piece and silence.
Embrace everything you feel.
Embrace the cold and the warm.
Embrace the people around you.
Embrace all you cannot change.
Embrace the people who wouldn’t.
Embrace for warmth.
Embrace to be safe.
Embrace me hold me and give me some safety,
In this world of uncertainty.
Embrace and feel that you can carry and cherish yourself.
Embrace your loved ones in happiness and sadness.
The first embrace from your crib and the love we felt when you were born.
Embrace to be safe.
See the Sky About to Rain
18 February 2021
philharmonie zuidnederland, Duncan Ward
Livestream Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, 29 October 2020
My studio is on the top floor of my house. Through the windows I look out over other buildings in the city, but I mainly see the clouds moving through the sky every day.
I am always impressed by the constant and steady change of their shapes and colors. The heavy clouds are beautiful, far away and at the same time close, impressive and timeless—every time I look at them.
Their silent floating in a motionless firmament seems to be a big part of their strength. To me they represent the passage of time and the unpredictability of the future.
Time passes differently for different beings and things. Like the clouds our lives are short and fleeting. The past months have made that clearer than ever.
Yet we always keep hope—as if we are looking at the sky, waiting for the redeeming rain.
On 26 February, philharmonie zuidnederland and conductor Mario Brunello will perform See the Sky About to Rain on Radio 4.