Spain and Spanish themes are at the core of this unusual and attractive recital from Dutch baritone Henk Neven. On this album: Ibert's Quatre chansons de Don Quichote, Shostakovich's Six Spanish Songs, which imbue the Spanish theme with an unmistakable Russian flavour, Ravel's Trois chanson de Don Quichote,and Dørumsgaard's Spanish Traditional Songs.
Henk Neven, Hans Eijsackers
Rêves d'Espagne!
ONYX 4132
The CD presentation of Rêves d'Espagne! will take place in the Concergebouw in Amsterdam, as part of Henk Neven and Hans Eijsackers' recital on March 15th. Order
tickets for the concert
from the CD introduction, written by Henk Neven:
"Don Quixote is a dreamer, an idealist.
He steps out of the real world and creates a new reality. A farmer’s daughter becomes a stunningly beautiful princess, the inn becomes a castle, the stocky neighbour turns into Squire Sancho Panza, askinny farmer’s nag becomes a noble racehorse and Alonso Quixano turns into Don Quixote de la Mancha! Fully believing in himself and his dream turned reality, the nobleman goes in pursuit of love and wages war to make the world a fairer and more beautiful place.
A fool or inspiring hero?
It is becoming increasingly harder to dream in a society where almost everything is within reach, where desires are quickly fulfilled, where anything abnormal or unknown has no purpose and where unknown worlds can be discovered from your computer.
Just sometimes I long for the pre-internet era where dreams could not be realised at the click of a mouse; a time when the unknown still awakened curiosity and longing."
As of September 2016, Henk will join the Codarts Rotterdam classical music voice faculty.
Henk: "I am very happy that I can be a part of the singing team at Codarts. Codarts and Rotterdam breathe the right atmosphere for me, one of energy and progress, based on tradition. I am motivated to share my experience. Together with colleagues from the department of classical singing I look forward to preparing younger singers for the future. I think there could be new generation of singers trained in Rotterdam with a sound technical basis and a broad artistic perspective."
Located in the heart of Rotterdam, Codarts (University of the Arts) is an international university with approximately 1,000 students, offering high-quality arts education in the fields of music, dance and circus. The Classical Music department has over 80 years of experience in training young talent who aspire to a professional musical future.
De Doelen, Schubert Stichting and Operadagen Rotterdam present Henk Neven and Hans Eijsackers in a series of masterclasses in Rotterdam, from 22 - 24 May. Four lied duos were chosen to participate in the masterclasses. The closing concert on May 24th will include performances by the participants of the masterclass and Schubert's Winterreise, performed by Mr. Neven and Mr. Eijsackers.
Inspired by Schubert's masterwork, artist Renee Wolters created a series of paintings which will be on display during the closing concert.
"Le Pollux de Henk Neven nous ravit. La voix est pleine, ronde, bien timbrée, toujours intelligible." Yvan Beuvard, Forumopera.com
"Le baryton-basse néerlandais Henk Neven incarne toute la noblesse et l’élégance qui conviennent à Pollux…" Jean-Marc Piriou, bachtrack.com
"..le Pollux de Henk Neven a de la tenue et du sentiment, sinon le moelleux désirable." Jean-Philippe Grosperrin, diapaison
"
L’engagement des chanteurs se situe à la hauteur de l’enjeu : leur attention au texte et à la déclamation mérite tous les éloges. En Pollux, Henk Neven familier du rôle, ardent, vibrant (superbe „present des dieux” - )" Michel Le Naour, concertclassic.com
"Pollux (Henk Neven) sait exprimer aussi bien la détermination que l’amour fraternel avec une égale vigueur, et il a dans cette version un rôle primordial" Joelle Farenc, resmusica.com
> October 2014
REVIEWS Wigmore Hall recitals
“You’ll still get a shock when you first hear him, because he sounds so much like a young Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau – hardly a disadvantage, and it’s obvious that his supple, finely coloured voice is a natural asset rather than an imposed style. He is no ‘school of’ singer, however, since he has very clear ideas about the music and is very individual in his phrasing and use of rubato. For this recital of Wolf and Mahler he was accompanied by his fellow Dutch artist, Hans Eijsackers, in what is clearly shaping up to be a remarkable collaboration.
Melanie Eskenazi, Music OHM, 07 October 2014
"...his diction was extremely clear, whether in the heady ode to a lover’s hair, ‘Und willst du deinen Liebsten sterben sehen’ or in the humorous ‘Hoffärtig seid Ihr, schönes Kind, und geht' ...
"By the final setting, ‘Sterb’ ich, so hüllt in Blumen’, there was an intense mood of contemplation, Neven’s voice finding the inner serenity of the song with fluid accompaniment from Eijsackers." ...
"Eijsackers began with the hollow rumble of the piano’s lower register, ‘Der Tamboursg’sell’, with its sinister references to death and impending doom. This was a black reading indeed, Neven’s voice noticeably more cutting in tone as the subject met the gallows, with a grim countenance that left nothing to the imagination." Ben Hogwood, Classical Source, 06 October 2014
“He’s an engaging presence on the podium, with a firm, resonant baritone.”
Neil Fisher, Times, April 2014
"Thus Neven made "Ganymed" burst with life and found a perfect stillness in
the two Wandrers Nachtlieder…”
Mark Valencia, The Arts Desk, May 2014 more reviews on the press page >
> August 2013
REVIEWS Ein deutsches Requiem Brahms BBC Proms / Royal Albert Hall, London
"...Neven wonderfully conveyed both the fears and hopes which define human mortality..." Opera Today, 19 August 2013
"...there were striking contributions, too, from the baritone soloist Henk Neven, intimately sung and marvellously clear with the text" The Guardian, 18 August 2013 more reviews on the press page >
> May 2013
FEATURED ARTIST / 24CLASSICS
24classicsprovides a new way to discover classical music online. 24classics.com consists of 24 playlists carefully curated by prominent musicians, reviewers and music programmers in the Dutch classical music scene. Each playlist is centred around a particular genre, instrument or mood.
Henk Neven is the featured artist for the 'song' genre.
> February 2013
RAVE REVIEWS for 'THE SEA'
"Rarely do you hear a baritone who sings with such subtlety in shading of dynamic and tone as the Dutch baritone Henk Neven."
"Altogether a most memorable song record." Gramophone, February 2013
"An adventurous program and a cd to cherish." Telegraaf, January 2013
"Here is a singer at the top of his game." Trouw, November 2012
"His strength lies in the intimate beauty of his voice" NRC Handelsblad, 2012
> 30 October 2012
TELEVISION APPEARANCE
Tonight Henk will perform the world premiere of a one-minute opera 'Vermoorde Onschuld' (Murdered Innocence') singing the role of infamous Dutch lawyer Bram Moszkowicz in the popular television program 'De Wereld Draait Door'. Music and text written by Frank Ketelaar en Florian Maier.
> October 2012
** SPECIAL OFFER **
'THE SEA'
For a limited time, Henk Neven's newest CD 'The Sea' will be available exclusively on the Klassieke Zaken website for a reduced price. ORDER NOW!
> September 2012
THE SEA
CD release
Henk Neven's new CD 'The Sea' is a deeply moving recital on man's fascination with the sea, and the sea's powerful emotional hold over us.
Songs by Debussy, Faure & Schubert.
Out in October, ONYX4102 Onyx Classics
> August 2012
New Photos / New Engagements now online
* Highlights in the 12/13 season:
recitals in Wigmore Hall, The Concertgebouw;
concert engagements in Norway, The Netherlands, England;
title role in 'Claude' (Opéra de Lyon)
* Papageno photos from 'Die Zauberflöte' (Opéra de Marseille)
> March 2012
Henk Neven / Mozart / Het Nederlands Kamerorkest In the program 'De ware Liefde', Henk Neven performs Mozart arias from Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro and Die Zauberflöte
in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on 14, 15, 17 April 2012 Order tickets
> 24 February 2012 'Rediscovering a Champion of the Ballad': New York Times
'The third of Loewe’s current champions is the Dutch baritone Henk Neven...'
Written by Matthew Gurewitsch, this article about composer Carl Loewe ran in the New York Times
On January 27th Henk will perform the world premiere of Marijn Simons' '4th Symphony' in the 'Vrijdag van Vredenburg' series in Utrecht, together with the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest under the direction of Antony Hermus.
> August
2011
Henk Neven nominated
for a Gramophone Award
Henk's debut cd 'Auf einer Burg' was recently nominated
for the prestigious Gramophone Award. In October the winner will
be announced.
> April
2011 Henk Neven awarded
the Dutch Music Prize (Nederlandse Muziekprijs)
On April
16th Henk Neven received the Dutch Music Prize (Nederlandse Muziekprijs),
presented by Judith van Kranendonk, a representative of the Ministry
of Education, Culture and Science. The prize was presented as part
of a concert with the Orchestra of the 18th Century and Cappella
Amsterdam, under the direction of Frans Brüggen.
for more photos of the presentation, visit the Facebook
page
> April 2011 Short documentary
about Henk Neven | NTR Podium
> April 2011 Henk Neven launches
debut solo recital CD and will be awarded the Dutch Music Prize
in Rotterdam
On April 16th Henk Neven will receive the Dutch Music Prize (Nederlandse
Muziekprijs) in the Doelen, Rotterdam and also launch his debut
recital CD, Auf einer Burg (Onyx Classics).
Neven joins a roster of acclaimed musicians and ensembles recorded
by the highly regarded 'boutique' label, Onyx Classics, whose reputation
for creativity and quality results from artist-led recordings that
are uniquely expressive and personal. The recording has been supported
by the Borletti-Buitoni Trust as part of the Fellowship awarded
to Neven in 2009.
The Prize presentation concert in which Henk Neven will performs
is Bach's Kreuzstab Kantate BWV 56 with the Orkest van
de Achttiende Eeuw conducted by Frans Brüggen.
> March 2011 Henk Neven accepts a guest teaching position
at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague
As of September 2011, Henk Neven will be visiting
professor at the Royal Conservatoire (Koninklijk Conservatorium
Den Haag) in The Hague. The Royal Conservatoire is the oldest conservatory
in The Netherlands, a music institute that for decades has stood
for the highest quality, at which internationally renowned musicians
are employed as teachers.
> April 2010 Henk Neven awarded the Dutch Music Prize
The Dutch Music Prize
('Nederlandse Muziekprijs') is the highest honor that the Ministry
of Culture can award to a classical musician. The prize is awarded
based on the advice of the Dutch Music Prize Advisory Board, that
is a part of the Dutch Fund for the Performing Arts. Just as other
recipients of this prestigious prize, Henk Neven successfully followed
a study path with the main emphasis being on the musical development
of the artist. Candidates for the prize have the opportunity to
coach with the best musicians in the world.
The date that Neven will officially receive the prize is not yet
known.
Henk Neven is one of the eight artists
to join BBC's prestigious New Generation Artist scheme this month.
The scheme, now in its tenth year, offers young artists opportunities
to work with BBC orchestras, commission new repertoire, make broadcasts
from significant venues such as Wigmore Hall and perform at some
of the UK's most renowned festivals, such as the City of London
Festival and Cheltenham International Festival. As part of its commitment
to nurturing young talent, the BBC invites eight artists onto the
scheme every autumn, for two years. Their recordings form a pivotal
part of BBC Radio Three's broadcasting, from both live performances
and studio recordings.
> September 2009 UK representation with Intermusica
In September 2009 Henk
Neven signed with Intermusica, one of the leading international
agencies in the field of classical music.
Intermusica will represent Henk Neven in the UK.
The Borletti-Buitoni Trust was
established in April 2002 to help young concert artists, in as flexible
and innovative ways as possible, to develop and sustain burgeoning
international careers.
Working in partnership with managers, concert promotors, broadcasters,
publishers and recording companies the Trust aims to nurture selected
musicians by encouraging their musical growth and providing an extended
platform of opportunities which will help them gain greater public
recognition.
> March 2016
> April
2011
REVIEWS Wigmore Hall recitals
> May 2013
> October 2012
New Photos / New Engagements now online