Holland Festival

Recht op risico: Niet voor niets bracht het Holland Festival een eerbetoon aan de baanbrekende componist Edgard Varèse. De krampachtige angst voor het vreemde van deze tijd werkt beperkend en beklemmend en legt het risico van vernieuwing lam. En daarmee ook de kunst. De Veenfabriek heeft een risicovolle structuur. We zijn flexibel en bereid om op ieder moment te reageren, van planning te veranderen, belangwekkende thema’s aan te pakken en het vreemde te omarmen. Dat geldt ook voor het Holland Festival dat ons ook in 2009 de ruimte heeft gegeven voor een spannende onderneming: Kristal, een concertant portret over Edgard Varèse met het sireneorkest op de vijver van het Westergasterrein.

Wandering through the program of this festival it feels as an honor being asked to push new flemish music into the spotlights at this fabulous stage. It felt logical to play also the monumental Shiraz composition by Claude Vivier: its fierce, optimistic believe in the universality of differing cultures by trying to show next to eachother the benefits of it, that seems to me also what this festival is aiming for. (HF 2010, Pianoprogramme for the third millenium)

The Holland Festival is one of the few festivals that we consider artistically and socially significant. Many festivals tend to lose their relevance to the community they serve. The Holland Festival is well regarded in the international arts community not only for its high quality explorative programming but also its ability to engage the broader community through innovative activities like its Eyefuel, Earfuel and Mindfuel events. The way in which the city is engaged through its comprehensive programming and use of spaces in many ways help define the essence of Amsterdam and Holland to visitors. There are thousands of city festivals. Only a few catch our attention and are appealing enough for us to ensure it stays on our 'radar'. The Holland Festival is one such festival.

The famous Holland Festival, with its commitment to progressive and innovative programming, is hosting a tribute to the greatest Arab singer of all time, Oum Kalthoum, in a production of the Beiteddine Festival of Lebanon. It is with great pride that the Beiteddine Festival embarks on this cross-cultural encounter with the Holland Festival in bringing the best of classical Arabic music to a new audience. Our very special thanks go to Pierre Audi and the Holland Festival for this window of opportunity that will undoubtedly develop in the best interest of both cultures. Nora Joumblatt President Beiteddine Festival

The Holland Festival is one of the most important international festivals next to Salzburg, Bayreuth and the Ruhrtriennale. It has a very long and much appreciated tradition but does not only rely on that, but tries to be innovative and shows newest developments. Its diversity of innovative productions of standard repertoire and new creations of all sorts is quite unique. It is a pleasure to come to Amsterdam and an honour to perform for the Holland Festival and its interested and critical public. We hope to be able to exchange productions in the future.

It is with the greatest of pleasure and professional respect that I recommend the Holland Festival to my local and global colleagues. The innovative and progressive artistic program with consistency advances our awareness and knowledge of art in the performing, media, visual and scenic arts. It is both the range and depth of the works that are either produced or presented, commissioned or co-commissioned that distinguish the aesthetics of this Festival. The realm of new ideas and techniques within a global perspective and the quality of those works that place this artistic initiative in the City of Amsterdam on our professional horizons prompt us to attend annually. May it continue to thrive and prosper throughout the twenty-first century.

Hup Holland Festival!

Tijdens het Holland Festival zou ik mezelf wel willen klonen, zodat ik meerdere voorstellingen tegelijk kan zien.

Het Holland Festival slaagt er al 15 jaar in onze monumentale gebouwen te eren met bijzondere evenementen en voorstellingen. Het lijkt iedere keer alsof de voorstelingen gemaakt zijn voor de ruimtes waarin ze plaatsvinden, zowel de Gashouder als de Zuiveringshal. Van de opera Antigone in 1993 tot de prachtige installatie van Hans op de Beeck in 2008.

Holland Festival is the ultimate venue for an encounter between different musical genres that have been inspired by the same sources. For a long time it has been my dream to participate in one of Europe's most important festivals, presenting Norwegian folk music alongside works by J.S. Bach. (HF 2010, Maria's Song)

The Holland Festival is one of the best and most visionary arts festivals in the world. I am honoured indeed to be invited to perform there a second time--and am really thrilled and excited to be collaboratiing with such talented Dutch artists as Reza Namavar and the Cameleon Ensemble.

It's always an honor and a pleasure to participate in the Holland Festival and to meet its wonderful audience. We're looking forward to performing again at the Westergasfabriek, which is so conducive to our work. (photo Dominik Mentzos)