It is the magnum opus of the greatest living Dutch composer: De Materie (1988) by Louis Andriessen.

Andriessen also made a name abroad with this quadriptych. Recently it was given highly acclaimed guest performances in America and Germany, however the work is seldom performed in the Netherlands. Drawing upon a rich musical background, the composer reflects upon the relationship between matter and spirit in his own idiosyncratic way. De Materie was inspired by texts from four different centuries. The music inspired by the mystical thoughts of the thirteenth-century poetess in Hadewijch is tranquil and contemplative. In contrast it is raw and upfront, with a compelling ‘boogie-woogie-feel’, when connected with Mondriaan’s twentieth century, such as in De Stijl. However, that unmistakeable, straight-from-the-shoulder Andriessen sound is ever-present; while rooted in Stravinsky, at the same time it is closely aligned with our modern pop culture.

Artists

LOUIS ANDRIESSEN
De Materie 

ASKO|SCHÖNBERG
Royal conservatory
conductor Reinbert de Leeuw
soprano Kristina Bitenc
tenor Georgi Sztojanov
speaker Nina van Essen
speaker Elsie de Brauw