Programme 28 June 2026
(Immanuelkerk Maassluis 15:00 h)
Johan Wagenaar (1862–1941)
Levenszomer (Summer of Life): Fantasy for Orchestra, Op. 21 (1903)
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Sergei Rachmaninov (1873–1943)
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini for piano and orchestra, Op. 43 (1934)
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Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
The Firebird Suite (1919)
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)
Painting with Music
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A Sunday afternoon in summer. The perfect time for colorful, narrative music full of virtuosity, vitality and imagination.
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We begin very appropriately with Levenszomer (Summer of Life) by Johan Wagenaar. The summer of life is a time of fulfillment and happiness, a time in which life is celebrated. In Levenszomer, Wagenaar paints with warm, rich orchestral colors. The work opens with a broad, calm melody in the wind instruments, supported by gently flowing strings. Later, other instrumental groups take over the theme, while the horns provide a rounded, mellow foundation. In the middle section the music becomes more animated and a playful interaction emerges. Towards the end, calmness returns. The winds are heard once more, while the strings again support them with a peaceful, flowing motion.
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The 24 very virtuosic variations of Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody are based on a simple melody by Paganini. They tell the story of the violinist who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for technical brilliance and love. The music begins innocently but becomes increasingly intense, until we actually hear the devil claiming Paganini’s soul. Then the light breaks through: the woman appears. The melody seems to float above a soft, gently rocking accompaniment. In the final variations the tension rises again, but ultimately peacefulness returns, and the pianist ends with two soft chords.
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Stravinsky’s Firebird 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 held captive by the sorcerer. We hear the sorcerer’s subjects jumping up and down to wild rhythms, and the princesses dancing to a beautiful melody in the oboe. To tender bassoon sounds, the Firebird lulls the sorcerer into an eternal sleep, after which the piece concludes with 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.