Programme 6 June 2026

(de Doelen Rotterdam 12:30 h)

 

Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Stravinsky’s The Firebird

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Introduction – The Firebird and its Dance – Variations of the Firebird – Round Dance of the Princesses – Infernal Dance of King Kashchei – Berceuse – Finale

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Alejandro Cantalapiedra, conductor (bio)
Damiën Heemskerk, piano (bio)

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Fairy tales and virtuosity

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Step out of everyday reality for a moment and enter a world full of pianistic virtuosity and orchestral fireworks.

The 24 very virtuosic variations of Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody are based on a simple melody by Paganini. Legend has it that this violinist sold his soul to the devil in exchange for dazzling finger technique and love. You can hear that story in the music. It begins light-heartedly but grows ever more intense, until in the seventh variation you hear the devil claiming Paganini’s soul. The atmosphere becomes even more demonic, but then the light breaks through: the woman appears. The eighteenth variation forms the emotional heart of the work - the melody seems to float above a gentle, rocking accompaniment. In the final six variations the tension rises, but calmness eventually returns and the pianist ends with two soft chords.

 

Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite begins in darkness, with eerie low strings: we are in the fairy-tale realm of an evil sorcerer. Then the Firebird flies in - excited strings and trills in the woodwinds announce her arrival. She is captured by Prince Ivan, but he releases her in exchange for a magical feather. With the help of this feather, he frees thirteen princesses who are being held captive by the sorcerer. We hear the sorcerer’s subjects jumping up and down to wild rhythms, and the princesses dance to a beautiful melody in the oboe.

 

To tender bassoon sounds, the Firebird lulls the sorcerer into an eternal sleep, after which the piece ends in a scorching finale.

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Bio Damiën
 

Damiën Heemskerk (2002) discovered his passion for the piano at the age of twelve. He studied with Elly van der Wallen, after which he quickly developed into a talented pianist. Since he completed his bachelor’s degree at Codarts in Rotterdam with Bart van de Roer in 2024, he has been studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music with Sigurd Slåttebrekk.

Damiën has performed with various orchestras, playing works by composers such as Pijper and Schnittke in the Main Hall of De Doelen. He also performs regularly with the Doelen Ensemble. In 2024 he was selected as a “young master” to perform in the Discovery Series of the Naarden International Piano Festival. He has won prizes at the Prinses Christina Competition, the Prinses Marianne Competition, and the Chamber Music Competition Gelre, and in 2024 he received the Scholarship of the Friends of Codarts.

In addition to music, Damiën has a strong interest in other art forms such as visual art and literature. He often designs his own concert programmes and is constantly searching for ways to connect different art forms.