Spotlight on Lucie Horsch
The Kleine Zaal is one of the most delightful venues to play in, according to Amsterdam-based Lucie Horsch. 'For me, the acoustics hold the perfect balance between clarity and warmth. Someone once asked me: aren't you extra nervous because you're playing a home game? Not at all. The Kleine Zaal is like a box of chocolates.' Horsch can be found at the Museumplein several times this season as a Spotlight artist. She has put together a number of programs in which she performs as a recorder player, singer, and pianist. In doing so, she connects Baroque, Romantic, and contemporary music: 'I prefer to perform old and new together in a single concert. In that way, you give extra meaning to both the old and the contemporary music.'
Bach and Schumann
Schumann is one of her favorite composers, says Lucie Horsch. Schumann and Bach rarely appear on the same program, and as a Spotlight artist, she saw her opportunity. Schumann had Bach as his compositional compass; he studied the Baroque composer's work thoroughly. Schumann's piano works and chamber music often display Bach-like structures. A piece that Horsch has always wanted to perform, as a pianist, is Schumann's Piano Quartet . She invited classically trained musicians who are also interested in historical performance practice and enjoy experimenting, with gut strings, for example. 'I find musicians with diverse backgrounds and playing styles inspiring. They keep me sharp!'