Who was Olly
Program
Oliver Knussen Eccentric Melody
Esa-Pekka Salonen Arabesques for Olly
Rob Zuidam F'Olly
Julian Anderson Maisema
Detlev Glanert Little Letter for Olly
Colin Matthews Three Fragments
Philip Cashian The Art of Memory
Sean Shepherd familiar
Charlotte Bray From the innermost places
Oliver Knussen Tarantella
Tansy Davies gem
Poul Ruders Last Post - a tune for Olly
Augusta Read Thomas Riddle
Ryan Wigglesworth Barcarolly
Jo Kondo A Song for the Owl
Mark-Anthony Turnage Song for Big Owl
Brad Lubman For Anssi for OK
Kaija Saariaho Lullaby
Zoe Martlew O-lude
Musicians
Anssi Karttunen cello
In 2018, the composer and conductor Oliver Knussen passed away. With him, the music world lost a great musician, but more importantly a beloved and wonderful human being. Knussen was popular in the Muziekgebouw, as well. He has been honoured by many of his colleagues, who spontaneously composed homages to him. These people included Kaija Saariaho, Rob Zuidam and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Cellist Anssi Karttunen brings all these works together. Karttunen will also perform two short solos by Knussen himself, who was a good friend of his: Tarantella (to the letters of the name ‘Saariaho’) and Eccentric melody, a magical gem.
Excluding Knussen, there will be pieces by seventeen different composers. Some studied with Knussen, like Augusta Read Thomas and Mark-Anthony Turnage, others were friends or close colleagues. Stylistically the works are incredibly diverse, creating a nice landscape of time. The finale is the soundscape O-lude by Zoe Martlew. Videos will be shown and memories shared of ‘Olly’, Knussen’s nickname.