Fresh from her triumphs at the BBC Proms and Salzburger Festspiele, Greek soprano
Myrsini Margariti headlines Simon Murphy's classical stage programme at the Netherlands' Embassy Festival in The Hague this September 5th.
Video
Dripping with Mediterranean sensuality, the svelte Greek diva has taken the international press' collective breath away with “her sonorous, youthful voice”, “artful agility” and “delightful virtuoso climaxes”. Accompanied by celebrated Greek pianist and conductor Zoe Zeniodi, Myrsini Margariti performs music from her enthusiastically received new solo album with works by Puccini, Mendelssohn, Grieg, da Falla, Gounod, Mozart and Dvorak, complimented by new music by contemporary Greek composers Theodorakis and Hatzidakis, in a highly personal recital programme,
On Wings of Song.
Further in the star-studded 2015 festival line-up: Dutch "harp heroine"
Gwyneth Wentink performs a dynamic solo programme entitled
Style Wars contrasting music by Bach and the American minimalist Terry Riley, Trinidad-born soprano Nicole Jordan explores the rich, vibrant and diverse musical traditions of Spain and the Caribbean in
Goddess of the Wind, and acclaimed Georgian concert pianist
Nino Gvetadze (pictured below) performs music from her acclaimed new Debussy album. Silk-road masters
Arifa close the proceedings with a hauntingly beautiful musical journey bridging the Orient and Occident with
Caravan.
Embassy Festival Classical / Jazz Programme
Held annually in the beautiful, historic centre of The Hague, the Netherlands' Embassy Festival is a vibrant and cosmopolitan celebration of the world's musical and culinary arts.
Curated and presented by Dutch-based Australian conductor and violist Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973), the festival's classical/jazz stage features a rich variety of musical styles performed by leading international musicians in a series of concert programmes of music from 5 continents with repertoire spanning 5 centuries.
Murphy's previous festival editions featured Dutch musical superstars harpist
Lavinia Meijer, flautist Felicia van den End, and violinist Frederieke Saeijs, Australian classical saxophonist
Amy Dickson, Swedish lute virtuoso Karl Nyhlin, German star-soprano
Gudrun Sidonie Otto, Norwegian accordionist and ECM recording-artist
Frode Haltli, Germany's Boreas Quartett, award-winning Canadian soprano Stefanie True, U.S. pianist Bobby Mitchell and soprano Julia Kogan, and the Netherlands' Rembrandt Frerichs Trio.
This year's programme again offers audiences a delectable and captivating array of musical styles, from fiery European operatic master-works, delicate, to French impressionist musical portraits, to dynamic, modern, new world composition. Music for the ears, eyes, heart, soul and mind.
Festival Location and Atmosphere
A stone's throw away from the city's historic concert halls, opera houses and art galleries, the tree-lined boulevard of The Hague's Lange Voorhout makes the perfect backdrop for the Embassy Festival's international classical and jazz programme. In this inspiring festival setting, along cobblestone streets once walked by Mozart, Beethoven and Dussek, modern audiences now have the opportunity to savour some of the world's most exciting contemporary performers in a series of engaging concert presentations. Other festival offerings include culinary delights from around the world, theatre, street art and more.
Festival Details
Embassy Festival, Lange Voorhout (outside), The Hague
Saturday 5 September 2015, 12:00 to 21:00
(Classical Programme 12:30 to 17:30)
Entrance FREE!
www.embassyfestival.com
Festival organiser is Prooost in partnership with the city of The Hague. The Embassy Festival is part of The Hague's festive, cultural season's opening weekend “48 uur van Den Haag” (48 hours of The Hague)
For further information on conductor Simon Murphy's other projects and performing activities, visit:
www.simonmurphyconductor.com
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Embassy Festival 2015
Full Programme: Classical / Jazz Section
A stone's throw away from the city's historic concert halls, opera houses and art galleries, the tree-lined boulevard of The Hague's Lange Voorhout makes the perfect backdrop for The Embassy Festival's classical and jazz programme.
Throughout the centuries, this magical location has witnessed the presence of legendary international artists, composers and performers, including Mozart, Dussek and Beethoven. Now, in this inspiring festival setting, audiences have the opportunity to savour some of Europe and the world's most exciting contemporary performers in engaging concerts celebrating the vitality and diversity of European musical culture.
Curated by Australian conductor and resident of The Hague Simon Murphy, the festival's classical/jazz stage features a rich variety of musical styles performed by leading international musicians in an engaging series of concert programmes.
Nino Gvetadze, piano
First Impressions
12:30
Video
Tbilisi born, international award-winning Georgian piano virtuoso Nino Gvetadze has been described as “a sensation!” by the German press, and as “a born pianist, gifted with the rare ability to speak to the heart” by the Netherlands' NRC. Hailed for her refined and polished performance, she performs an intimate recital of piano works from her recent solo album focussing on the delectably aromatic/fragrant musical palette of French master-impressionist Debussy. www.ninogvetadze.com
Nicole Jordan, soprano
Goddess of the Wind
13:30
Ancient spiritual traditions of the Yoruba are still proudly practised in Trinidad and Tobago. Orisha, like the people themselves, has been mixed and blended to include many influences from all over the world, but the roots remain unchanged. Presenting classical music from many lands including Trinidad, Spain, France and Canada, soprano Nicole Jordan and pianist Celia García-García describe the power and influence of Oya, the Orisha goddess of the Wind. www.nicolejordan.info
Gwyneth Wentink, harp
Style Wars
14:30
Winner of the Princess Christina Competition, Gwyneth Wentink, has been branded the “harp heroine” by national Dutch newspaper NRC. With her “playing coming straight from the heart”, the international press has been equally enthusiastic. “Gwyneth Wentink is a splendid harpist with a virtuoso's flair and technique. She knows how to exploit every resource of her instrument, tossing off delicate rippling arpeggios, furious cascades, whirlwind runs and remarkably sonorous, ringing harmonics” (NY Concert Review). For the Embassy Festival, Gwyneth presents a dazzling programme of solo harp classics including works by Fauré and Debussy, balancing cutting-edge modern works by Terry Riley and others. www.gwynethwentink.nl
Myrsini Margariti, soprano
On Wings of Song
15:30
Video
Dripping with Mediterranean sensuality, svelte Greek soprano Myrsini Margariti has taken the international press' collective breath away with “her sonorous, youthful voice”, “artful agility” and “delightful virtuoso climaxes”. Whether “threading delicate lines, singing with attack or brilliant coloratura relish”, Myrsini exudes vitality and an electrifying dynamism, doing so in an impressively broad repertoire. Fresh from her triumphs at the BBC Proms and the Salzburger Festspiele, Myrsini presents a captivating, soaring musical adventure
On Wings of Song.
Accompanied by celebrated Greek pianist and conductor Zoe Zeniodi, Myrsini's programme includes works from her new solo album with songs and arias by Puccini, Mendelssohn, Grieg, da Falla, Gounod, Mozart and Dvorak, complimented by new music by contemporary Greek composers Theodorakis and Hatzidakis. www.myrsinimargariti.com www.zoezeniodi.com
Arifa
Caravan
16:50
“Enticing and melancholic”, Dutch national newspaper NRC described Arifa's rich, intimate and hauntingly beautiful musical tapestries as “Meticulous, almost cinematographic soundscapes”. In the wake of their successful albums, Beyond Babylon and Anatolian Alchemy, Arifa make their debut at the Embassy Festival with a programme presenting a fascinating bridge of sounds between Orient and Occident. Join Arifa for a captivating, magical and mystical musical journey along the silk road. www.arifamusic.com
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Programming and Presentation by Simon Murphy, 2015
www.simonmurphyconductor.com
