Many composers have drawn inspiration from the moon. In addition to the famous Moonlight Sonata In addition to Beethoven, the program also features the magnificent “Songs of Madagascar” by the famous French composer Maurice Ravel. Dramaturg Carel Alphenaar has selected the beautiful Dutch poems, which are recited by actor Abdelkarim el Baz.

With the Bijlmer Klassiek series, Michael Gieler brings world-class chamber music to Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra perform in an intimate setting and connect with artists who have their roots in the Bijlmer. In the auditorium of the Bijlmer Parktheater, great names like Beethoven and Schubert go hand in hand with upbeat songs from around the world. Bijlmer Klassiek is a joint project of Music Stages and the Bijlmer Parktheater.

Today, the IJ-salon takes the audience on a journey through the night. The moon sets the rhythm on Earth. It guides travelers in the dark and is the ally of all lovers. But the moon is also part of our nightmares. Music for the moon spanning three centuries, featuring visuals by video artist EVman and the Dutch debut of the talented young Australian singer Lotte Betts-Dean.

Michael Gieler, artistic director of Music Stages: ‘It’s no coincidence that the moon is the ultimate source of inspiration for poets, artists, and composers. It seems as though we can project all our emotions onto her. Whether you’re in love, happy, sad, or anxious—the moon always has a face to match. It’s high time we dedicated an entire IJ-Salon to our pale companion.’

The first program of the Bijlmer tour is a collaboration with Sydney Lowell, a spoken word artist from Southeast Amsterdam who is known for 'We the people'. The musicians of the Schoch Quartet will perform mysterious and moving string quartets by Beethoven and Smetana.