Friday 22 August - Opera at Museum Van Loon

For 2014 Museum Van Loon has chosen a special opera: Vom Fischer und seiner Frau, an opera by Swiss composer Othmar Schoeck (1886-1957). Schoeck is particularly known for his songs and chamber music. He composed this ‘dramatic cantata’ in 1930 for soprano, tenor, bass bariton and full orchestra. Because of the ten year cooperation between Museum Van Loon and Stichting Opera op Zak the opera will be performed in a new (chambermusic) composition by director Ivo Meinen. Vom Fischer und seiner Frau is based on a fairytale from the brothers Grimm. A fisherman and his wife are desperately poor and actually live in a night stool. When the fisherman catches an enchanted fish which grants a wish to his wife, she wishes for a proper cot. When her wish has come true the woman is happy, but not really content. Next she wishes for a castle, and again she has her wish. Now she has come to like it nothing is enough. She wants more and more and more … How far can she go en who is going to stop her? This fairytale about ambition and greed is a perfect parable of our time and holds the mirror up to us. For more is never enough, but at what cost? Artists: Erik Slik, tenor (fisherman), Hrafnhildur Árnadóttir, soprano (wife), Sven Weyens, bariton (fish). They are accompanied by an ensemble consisting of: violin, altoviolin, cello, piano, clarinet and oboe. Artistic direction: Elsina Jansen. Conductor: Ivo Meinen The opera is suitable for all ages and is performed in German. The concert will take about 45 minutes. After the performance people can enjoy a drink and a stroll through the beautiful garden. The house itself can also be visited. The concert has among others been made possible by the kind donation of AFK, SNS Reaal fonds, Het Kersjesfonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds (Fonds Henri Fock).