2018 Mendelssohn & Schumann

The very first edition of the Februari Festival was a huge success. For five whole days, we celebrated the exquisite music of Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn and Clara and Robert Schumann. With renowned musicians from inside and outside the Netherlands, and augmented by fascinating lectures and films, the festival was a true experience.

Special musical encounters

The Februari Festival brings together musicians who have never played together before. For instance, violinist Simone Lamsma performed with cellist Quirine Viersen and the Israeli pianist Ishay Shaer for the first time, forming a special trio that played with incredible passion and energy.

Young talents

The renowned Italian ensemble Quartetto di Venezia performed with young talents from the Royal Conservatoire, among others. Mezzosoprano Maria Fiselier sang rarely heard songs by Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn. We also collaborated with the prestigious competition Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Hochschulwettbewerb 2018 Berlin: the finalist, South Korean pianist Shihyun Lee, performed a number of Mendelssohn’s solo works.

Adding perspective

Musicologist Frits Zwart, doctor and professor of neurobiology Dick Swaab and musicologist and publicist Thea Derks gave lectures offering commentaries and information that helped the audience develop how they listened to the music. The evening concerts were presented by musicologist and publicist Huib Ramaer, who briefly commented on the performed works, recounted some anecdotes and added cultural and historical perspectives.

Unique festival ingredients

On Saturday evening, the audience was treated to a true festival programme, with everything from solo pieces and trios to quartets and vocal music. The evening concluded with a performance by a specially selected string orchestra of students from the Royal Conservatoire and the Amsterdam Conservatoire. The German violinist and instructor Antje Weithaas, concertmaster of Camerata Bern, led this orchestra in Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No.9. The result was an ecstatically energetic performance – the thunderous applause it drew from the audience said it all.

Overview of musicians & ensembles

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