MouseEar Concerts

02/06/2023

Like a Virgin(alist) – Don’t miss Bertrand Cuiller (harpsichord) and Jord Homan (recitation) in “A Cleare Day”, a programme combining music by the English virginalists (Byrd, Bull, Phillips, et al.) and texts by Shakespeare, Donne, Wyatt, Jonson et al. performed in original pronunciation, the manner in which English was spoken at this time. This celebration of “this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England” will take place on 3 June at De Waag in Amsterdam. Last chance for tickets -- get them now! https://www.ticketkantoor.nl/shop/acleareday

30/05/2023

In Sonnet 128, Shakespeare expresses his envy of the jacks in his beloved’s harpsichord, “the wood whose motion sounds with [her] sweet fingers.” On 2-3 June, the “saucy jacks” mentioned in Shakespeare’s sonnet will be those in a copy of the harpsichord part of Lodewijk Theeuwes’s 1579 claviorganum, and the “sweet fingers" will belong to harpsichordist Bertrand Cuiller, who will perform works of the English virginalists (Byrd, Bull, Phillips, et al.). The Bard will be there, too: some of his poems will be presented by performance Jord Homan in original pronunciation – the manner in which Elizabethan English was thought to have been spoken – as well as works by his coevals John Donne, Ben Jonson, et al. This unforgettable event takes place on 2 June at 20h00 at the Zeeuwse Concertzaal in Middelburg and on 3 June at 20h30 at De Waag in Den Haag. Tickets are available through our website:

2 June: ​​https://tickets.de-drvkkery.nl/nl-NL/Show/Details/Bertrand-Cuillier-en-Jord-Homan-2-jun-38305
3 June: https://www.ticketkantoor.nl/shop/acleareday

27/05/2023

2-3 June -- A celebration of Elizabethan England! Some of the most exciting works for keyboard emerged from late 16th and early 17th-century England, when the so-called “virginalists” – William Byrd, John Bull, Peter Phillips, et al. – were at work, creating impressive virtuoso displays, elegant dances, charming tunes, stirring sacred works, and more. During this same time, William Shakespeare, John Donne, Ben Johnson, et al., were doing the same, creating poetry and prose running the gamut of human emotions, from the comic to the tragic and everything in between. These two arts come together on 2 and 3 June when harpsichord Bertrand Cuiller and performance artist Jord Homan join forces for “A Cleare Day” – music by the virginalists interwoven with English texts performed in original pronunciation. Don’t miss this unforgettable event, which takes place on Friday, 2 June at 20h00 in the Zeeuwse Concertzaal in Middelburg and Saturday, 3 June at 20h30 in De Waag in Amsterdam. Tickets available here:

2 June:
https://tickets.de-drvkkery.nl/nl-NL/Show/Details/Bertrand-Cuillier-en-Jord-Homan-2-jun-38305
3 June: https://www.ticketkantoor.nl/shop/acleareday

29/11/2022

27/11/2022

What better way to escape the winter chill than to enjoy the warmth of chamber music? On 26 and 27 November, Josh Cheatham and Skip Sempé will present a programme of French works for viola da gamba and harpsichord at the Singelkerk in Amsterdam and the Akerendam estate in Beverwijk. In addition to works by Marais, Forqueray and Louis Couperin, among others, plenty of cosiness will be on offer. Tickets available through the MouseEar website: https://www.mouseearconcerts.com/agenda

26/11/2022

Feeling high-strung these days? MouseEar has a remedy: come relax in the expressive warmth of two splendid stringed instruments: the viola da gamba and the harpsichord. Josh Cheatham and Skip Sempé will serenade you with a programme of French works, including pieces from Marais, Forqueray and Louis Couperin, et al. Come join us at the Singelkerk in Amsterdam (26 November) and the Akerendam estate in Beverwijk (27 November). Get your tickets now!

https://www.mouseearconcerts.com/agenda

25/11/2022

Marin Marais (1656–1728) had 19 children, which makes doubly impressive the fact that he found time to write more than 600 works for the viola da gamba. Collected in five books of “Pièces de violes”, these works embody the essence of the French musical tradition of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His music echoed in the halls of Versailles, and on 26 and 27 November, early-music superstars Josh Cheatham and Skip Sempé will bring his works to life in the Singelkerk in Amsterdam and the music salon at Akerendam in Beverwijk, respectively. Tickets are now available!

https://www.mouseearconcerts.com/agenda

24/11/2022

Joshua Cheatham (viola da gamba) and Skip Sempé (harpsichord)
Works by Marais, Forqueray, Louis Couperin, et al.
Singelkerk, Amsterdam – 26 November
Buitenplaats Akerendam, Beverwijk – 27 November

Don’t miss it!

https://www.mouseearconcerts.com/agenda

23/11/2022

What’s the French translation of “alleskunner”? MouseEar proposes “Skip Sempé” – he does it all! From founding and sustaining an ensemble (Capriccio Stravagante, which has since expanded to become three ensembles), founding a recording label (Paradizo), and appearing on international stages as both a soloist and ensemble member, Skip shares his many talents on all sides of the early-music scene. On 26 and 27 november, he will appear with viola da gambist Josh Cheatham for a pair of concerts featuring French repertoire in Amsterdam (26 November, Singelkerk) and Beverwijk (27 November, buitenplaats Akerendam). Get your tickets now!

https://www.mouseearconcerts.com/agenda
📸 Skip Sempé by Marco Borggreve

21/11/2022

On 26-27 November, MouseEar invites you to step back in time to a French salon in 18th-century France. At the harpsichord will be Skip Sempé, founder of the early-music ensemble Capriccio Stravagante and a soloist in demand worldwide; playing the viola da gamba will be Joshua Cheatham, a multi-talented performer appearing on podia across Europe as a member of viol consorts and other ensembles, as a soloist, and as an orchestral double-bass player. On the music desks will be works by Marais, Forqueray, Louis Couperin, and others from this golden age in French music. Don’t miss it! Tickets are available for 26 November at the Singelkerk in Amsterdam and on 27 November at the buitenplaats Akerendam in Beverwijk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2rAizlMq-Q

https://www.mouseearconcerts.com/agenda

Josh Cheatham (viola da gamba), Skip Sempé (harpsichord). Marin Marais: Sarabande grave (Livre III). Paradizo - From the bonus DVD included with PA 0006 (Ma...