Bijlmer Classic: Lou Lichtveld Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Bijlmer Parktheater

Extraordinary music by a Dutch-Surinamese jack-of-all-trades

This edition focuses on Lodewijk (Lou) Lichtveld (1903-1996), alias Albert Helman: writer, politician, resistance fighter, organist, and a surprisingly versatile composer. Thirty years after his death, musicians from the Concertgebouw Orchestra perform, among other works, his Songs of Kalua and the music for Joris Ivens' famous film Regen, accompanied by film projection. This is preceded by an informative introduction by writer, poet, literary scholar, and Surinamist Michiel van Kempen.

Bijlmer Klassiek is a unique concept by Bijlmer Parktheater in collaboration with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Over the past seasons, sold-out venues have experienced séu, kawina, jazz, Balkan folk, and music by Debussy, Daft Punk, Gershwin, and La Rouge in new forms. Bijlmer Klassiek is where encounters between artists and audience lead to beautiful fusions and exciting contrasts.

An interview with Lou Lichtveld from the documentary Avonturen Aan De Wilde Kust :

Watch the entire documentary here.