Grachtenfestival: Joost Willemze

Music about birds, from Baroque to contemporary

In the program Prophet Bird , you explore the role of birds in music with harpist Joost Willemze. The program ranges from Baroque pieces by François Couperin and Louis-Claude Daquin, through Romantic miniatures by Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann, and Mikhail Glinka, to contemporary compositions. In doing so, you will hear how birds have inspired composers throughout the centuries.

New music, written especially for this concert

The program also includes new work. The Dutch composer Aart Strootman wrote Vesje , a piece incorporating recorded blackbird sounds. Additionally, Joost Willemze performs a new composition by Benjamin Attahir, created especially for this program. In this way, the concert combines historical pieces with newly written music.

Joost Willemze, a leading harpist

Joost Willemze is one of the most prominent harpists in the Netherlands. He has won prizes at international competitions and received the Dutch Classical Talent Award and the Grachtenfestival Prize in 2023. In 2024, he was Artist in Residence at the Grachtenfestival and performed as a soloist with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra at the Concertgebouw. In addition to his concert career, he is Principal Harp Teacher at Codarts in Rotterdam.

Concert in The Loft Amsterdam

The concert takes place at The Loft Amsterdam, an intimate venue in the heart of the city. Are you interested in this concert? Use the link to The Loft's website for tickets.