Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Helstone's Het pand der goden

The building of the gods

The House of the Gods (1906) is a musical drama by the Surinamese composer Johannes Nicolaas Helstone (born in 1853 on the Berg en Dal plantation, died in 1927 in Paramaribo). It fell into oblivion after performances in Paramaribo and Berlin (in 1906). The Concertgebouw Orchestra would like to draw attention to this cultural heritage again and welcomes everyone to this unique performance led by Otto Tausk with vocal contributions from Cappella Amsterdam and soloists.

Johannes Nicholas Helstone

As a musician and writer, Johannes Nicolaas Helstone is important in Surinamese cultural history. He studied composition, piano and organ in Leipzig and succeeded in Berlin, Paris and Vienna. Instead of continuing his international career, he returned to his native country to help develop Surinamese culture further. The House of the Gods tells a mythical story: the hero Olindo discovers that he has an older sister, who the gods kidnapped after her birth to punish her parents. Olindo vows to find her and undertakes a dangerous journey to the temple of the gods... Will he be able to bring Athlolinda back?

With thanks to Het Concertgebouw and the Helstone Fund.