Helias was a Lunapark project together with literary production house Wintertuin. We worked together with four Dutch poets – Astrid Lampe, Mustafa Stitou, Saskia de Jong and H.H. ter Balkt. I set De Jong and Ter Balkt to music.

The poets gave new life to the enigmatic mediaeval legend of Helias, alias The Knight of the Swan, known to others as Lohengrin. He is a Rhineland cowboy (‘Surprised to see mee here?’ – ‘I knew you’d come’) who saves the honor of a duchess, marries her daughter and forbids his beloved ever to ask about his past.

Titles of the parts:

Inloopmuziek

(soundtrack)

opening

Zwaanridder

Je mevrouwmoeder

For Aart Strootman + H.H. ter Balkt

Ter dood, te fik

Klinkend klagende trompet

Aftiteling

(Mezzo-)soprano
Soundtracks
Clarinet
Percussion
Electric Guitar
Violin
Viola
Violoncello

35'

Commissioned by Literair Productiehuis Wintertuin.

Premiered by Lunapark, October 30, 2010, during Muziekbiënnale Niederrhein, in Het Badhuis, Nijmegen.

Available for rent/purchase from Deuss Music.