Willem Breuker Revisited

Willem Breuker Revisited

Just like the Bimhuis, the Willem Breuker Kollektief saw the light of day fifty years ago. The legendary orchestra, which was active until 2012, is now giving a concert in a new form for the first time. Most of the current members have performed extensively under the direction of its namesake and composer, who passed away in 2010. Three of the ten musicians were even there from the very beginning! The concert will be introduced by duos with musicians who have a connection with Breuker's music, alternating with a performance of 'www.brandhout.nl' for a specially assembled string octet consisting of members of the Dudok Quartet and the Mondriaan Quartet.

Willem Breuker

Willem Breuker repeatedly gave the Dutch music landscape innovative impulses. As a composer, saxophonist and clarinettist he united diverse styles in theatrical, cabaret-like performances for the widest possible audience. He travelled the world for thirty-five years with his own ensemble, the Willem Breuker Kollektief; he ran the record company BV Haast; and for decades he organised the festival Klap op de Vuurpijl for jazz, improvised and newly composed music. The Willem Breuker Kollektief was seen as groundbreaking worldwide, because of the way it combined jazz and free improvisation with European influences from theatre, film and classical music. In addition to Willem Breuker's own compositions, the Kollektief gave special performances of the music of Kurt Weill and George Gershwin. Many performances and albums were made in collaboration with special guests including Vera Beths, Gisela May, Greetje Kauffeld, Loes Luca and Freek de Jonge.