‘I want them to perform *Carmen* at my grave,’ wrote composer Henriëtte Bosmans. In this IJ-Salon, the musicians of the IJ-Salon, together with the drag queens of House of Hopelezz and House of Løstbois, will fulfill her wish and erect a small monument to one of the most extraordinary Dutch musicians of the 20th century. Bosmans identified with the fearless heroine of Bizet’s opera, who flouted conventions and remained true to herself until her death.
Michael Gieler, artistic director of IJ-Salon: ‘The decision to invite House of Hopelezz to this extravagant tribute came about entirely organically. Since its founding by drag queen Jennifer Hopelezz, these performers have epitomized the joyful and passionate exuberance of Amsterdam’s LGBTQIA+ community. It’s sure to be an unforgettable afternoon.’
