By , posted on 19 March 2024 in Stories

The Big Loud Thing

The Big Loud Thing originated in the 2022-2023 season as a series of pop-up concerts rediscovering a forgotten part of the history of Dutch new musicpop-up concerts rediscovering a forgotten part of the history of Dutch new music. In doing so, we celebrated the repertoire of Orkest de Volharding 50 years after its founding. With five colorful, stimulating, informal and festive programs in the public foyers of concert halls, before or after performances in the large halls, we brought this music to the people in Amare and the Muziekgebouw, easily accessible and for free.

The concerts were so successful that there was a follow-up in season 2023-24. This time the focus was on the repertoire of Ensemble Klang (20 years after our founding). In this follow-up, regular visitors curated the repertoire together with us for each edition where forgotten or favorite works could be heard again.

After two successful seasons, the Big Loud Thing has now become a valuable part of our program and so new series have been scheduled. In 2024 -2025, the concerts revolve around the anniversary of Gaudeamus, which will then have provided a stage for the latest developments in new music for 80 years. An excellent opportunity to hear some of the works that found their audience through Gaudeamus again!

In addition to our regular partner Amare, new venues will be added in the coming years. With the Big Loud Thing, we work together with young professionals and conservatory students so that this repertoire is also embedded in the experiences and practices of the next generation.