Concert 20 februari 2026 20:00 - 6 maart 2026
Musis, Muzenzaal
Beethoven's Les Adieux as accompaniment to a monologue in favor of or against kingship? Stimulating notes by Joey Roukens in a discourse on existential fear? That can only be Spraakmakers. The formula of a (contemporary) classical work combined with a socially relevant theme and great actors and musicians remains a true success. This time, actress Georgina Verbaan and actor Jan Decleir provide the stimulating texts to the meaningful notes.
The idea of connecting classical music with today's world and the hot-button issues in society has become a tradition in the form of Spraakmakers. The music is played, while the speakers tell their story. Through the interaction of text and music, a grand theatrical music story emerges, both taking on a deeper meaning, making the music of long ago relevant in today's world.
Program:
Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 26 "Les Adieux"
Roukens - What Remains
Musicians:
Hannes Minnaar – piano
Dudok Quartet
Georgina Verbaan and Jan Decleir – speakers
OTHER DATES:
21 FEB, Heerlen
22 FEB, Amsterdam
26 FEB, The Hague
27 FEB, Enschede
1 MARCH, Eindhoven
2 MARCH, Utrecht
6 MARCH, Amersfoort
Concert 22 februari 2026 14:00
Domusdela Eindhoven
The Maastricht Society of Music (MSM) traces its origins back to 2016, when Nikita Akulov, the ensemble's first violinist, founded the organization with the aim of promoting collaboration between music students from the Maastricht Conservatory and cultural institutions/private clients. The original concept focused on creating an association that enabled performances for its members while also establishing contacts with various cultural institutions.
Gradually, the ensemble transitioned into a fixed string quartet formation, given the success and cohesion achieved within this lineup. Thus, in 2018, the MSM String Quartet was established.
With a diverse lineup of musicians from different nationalities, the quartet has a distinctly international character. Since its inception, the MSM Quartet has performed over 200 concerts in the Netherlands and across Europe.
MSM received a grant during the Stadsgoud Competition, organized by the Elisabeth Strouven Fund, in recognition of its innovative approach to social and cultural engagement through events. This grant has since played a significant role in realizing the Maastricht Classical Chamber Music Series, which commenced in 2019 and enriched the cultural landscape of the region.
In 2022, the MSM Quartet won the Grand Prix du Public at the Maastricht Awards of Music. In 2024, they won the First Great Award at the Vienna International Competition. This achievement provides the quartet with the opportunity to record their debut album with Orpheus Label, to be internationally distributed and promoted, launching and accelerating their global recognition.
The quartet has received guidance from renowned chamber musicians such as Abel Tomàs (Cuarteto Casals), Alexander Pavlovsky (Jerusalem Quartet), Simone Grammaglia (Quartetto di Cremona), François Kieffer (Quatuor Modigliani), David Faber (Dudok Quartet), Luc-Marie Aguera (Quatuor Ysaÿe), Gerhard Schulz (Alban Berg Quartet), and Marc Danel (Quatuor Danel), among others.
Since 2024, the quartet has been affiliated with the Dutch String Quartet Academy (NSKA), where they receive mentorship. MSM is also a member of the international initiative Musethica.
Program:
L.v.Beethoven – String Quartet Op. 95 “Serioso”
B. Bartók – String Quartet no. 4
J. Turina – ‘La oración del torero’
Concert 24 februari 2026 19:15 - 25 februari 2026
Muziekgebouw, Eindhoven
By 2024, we'll be looking at our smartphones for an average of five hours a day; the average millennial will already be looking at them for six hours. For many of us, it's a true addiction, the little dopamine rushes keeping us glued to our smartphones for longer and longer periods of time. Ap Dijksterhuis, happiness professor and author of works including "The Smart Unconscious" and "Inspiration," delves deeper into the insidious pull our smartphones exert on us and also offers us a glimpse of a way out. We hear overstimulation, detox, and redemption in the music of Bryce Dessner and in a composition Daniel Wohl wrote especially for this Sharp Thinkers concert, performed by the Ragazze Quartet. Ap Dijksterhuis is a psychologist, writer, and professor at Radboud University Nijmegen. He specializes in the subconscious and intuitive thinking. He has won several scientific awards and published in top journals on the subconscious and human happiness. He regularly appears in the media to discuss human happiness and is therefore known as the happiness professor. He has written more than ten books, including the popular science bestsellers "On to Happiness," "Who (Doesn't) Travel Is Crazy," and "Inspiration," and the novels "Bart" and "Father."
Program:
Gabriella Smith – Carrot Revolution
Bryce Dessner – Tenebre
Daniel Wohl – New Work
OTHER DATES:
25 FEB, Het Concertgebouw
Concert 1 maart 2026 18:00
Amare, Den Haag
The North Sea String Quartet is THE Dutch jazz string quartet of the moment. The improvising string players shed a new light on the age-old string quartet with their outspoken improvisations, innovative playing styles, and idiosyncratic compositions, inspired by modern jazz, world music, contemporary classical, and electronic music.
The quartet has been internationally active for years, particularly in collaborations with artists such as Ambrose Akinmusire (US), Trio da Kali (ML), Roland Satterwhite (US), Lilian Vieira (BR), Javier Infante (ES), and Samora Pinderhughes (US).
The urge to innovate the string quartet format resulted in an exploration of unusual sounds. On their latest album, the North Sea String Quartet showcases what they have discovered; expect a fresh approach to string playing, drawing from elements of electronic music while remaining as acoustic as possible.
Concert 6 maart 2026 20:00 - 18 maart 2026
Concertstudio, Kortrijk
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Keizersgracht 241
1016 EA Amsterdam
info@nska.nl
