Éclairs sur l'Au‐delà

A propos du spectacle

In Éclairs sur l'Au‐delà, the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest performs Messiaen's final orchestral work and a commissioned work by the young composer Rob Zuidam.

For the French Catholic composer Olivier Messiaen (1908‐1992) birds were a symbolic representation of angels, the heavenly messengers. Their bright colours, their flight and above all their song were an inspiration to him countless times throughout his life. In his journeys over the five continents Messiaen painstakingly notated the birdsong that he heard, later making use of it in his compositions. In his last orchestral masterpiece Éclairs sur l’Au‐delà (Illuminations of the Beyond) (1988‐1991), Messiaen depicts the song of the Australian lyre‐bird, amongst others, with ten flutes and ten clarinets.
Furthermore, the young Dutch composer Rob Zuidam (1964) was commissioned by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra which will have its premiere in this concert.

Celebrate an homage to the great French composer Messiaen at this Holland Festival!