Month: October 2022

“Change is good; no change is better”, goes an English proverb. Nothing couldbe further from the truth when it comes to David Geffen Hall, reviled for itsimpossible acoustics since it opened in 1962. A major refurbishment in themid-1970s, funded by radio and electronics pioneer Avery Fisher, whose namewould grace the building for nearly 50 years. , changed little in the qualityof the hall. At concerts, the music disappeared into thin air; orchestramusicians heard neither themselves nor the rest of the orchestra on stage. Andthe eye, which also wants something, was deeply unhappy with the gold-leaf-covered block box filled with mustard-coloured chairs. The New YorkPhilharmonic, one of New York’s cultural crown jewels, has thus been playingin a hall far below its level for more than half a century. After a fewaborted attempts at a new renovation in the early 21st century, there wasfinally a happy coincidence in recent years. A great gift from music mogulDavid Geffen, top manager Deborah Borda who returned after a successful stintwith the Los Angeles Philharmonic as president of the NY Phil, conductor Jaapvan Zweden as the new chief, and the hiring of the right architectural firm.

Read also this interview with chief conductor Jaap van Zweden about therenovated hall

more intimate

An integral part of heritage-listed Lincoln Center, the building’s exteriorhad to remain intact, but everything else was fair game during the renovation.Diamond Schmitt Architects was guided by the goal so fervently desired by theorchestra and conductor, which is to provide a vastly improved experience foraudiences and musicians, both in and out of the hall. The result isimpressive: the music temple, which was open for only a handful of hours aday, now has an inviting lobby, which is also accessible during the day, withtwo coffee bars where concerts are shown live on a large screen. Several smallconcert spaces have been added, as well as rehearsal rooms and a recordingstudio. The hall itself has become more intimate (from 2,700 to 2,200 seats).The walls are covered with wavy birch wood. Acoustic reflectors are nowsuspended above the stage, which can be configured in 27 different ways, whichcan influence the sound in the hall as well as on stage. And, inspired by theAmsterdam Concertgebouw, among other things, 100 seats have been placed behindthe concert stage.

Baptism of Fire

After two years of continuous de- and construction work by an average of 450construction workers a day, the New York Philharmonic gave its first concertin the unrecognizable new home hall on Wednesday. In any case, there wasalready satisfaction with the process in advance: the budget (550 milliondollars) was not exceeded and partly thanks to Covid, the hall was completedtwo years earlier than planned.

For the acoustic baptism of fire, the New York Philharmonic chose an openingprogram that immediately put the versatility of the hall to the test: theworld premiere of Marcos Balters Oya for orchestra, electronics, and lightartist. After surprise gave way to fascination, John Adams’ My Father KnewCharles Ives , a cinematic homage in the higher sound regions, which soundedclear and clear in the hall. The Cuban-American composer Tania León,pioneering grande dame of North and South American new music, became the firstwhose work has been performed in both the ‘old’ and the new hall. Hair_stride_ , winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 2021, sounded full and powerful.Fading percussion in the closing bars beautifully exposed the magic ofdeafening silence. Respighis Pini di Roma gave conductor Jaap van Zweden andthe orchestra the opportunity to make themselves heard in more traditionalorchestral music, and that also worked out very well. Brass, woodwinds,strings, percussion and even the brand new electronic organ filled the hall ina way that you would have thought impossible three years ago. At a few momentsit was noticeable that the musicians still had to get used to the newacoustics. That probably won’t last long: after sixty years of suffering,being able to acclimatize to a good hall is a very welcome investment.

There is more good music coming out every week than there is time to listen toit. For those who like to go straight to their goal, Humo’s music editorsselected seven records that are either urgent to taste or completely ignored.

EditorialThursday, October 13, 202213:46

Marble Sounds – ‘Marble Sounds’

Marble Sounds is the band of and around Pieter Van Dessel , accordingto imdb.com also composer of the soundtracks of ‘Albatross’ and ‘Sense oftumor’. The oeuvre of Marble Sounds has long been the ‘Downton Abbey’ of theFlemish music scene: classy, ​​stately and well-made, but it can hardly becalled the most innovative of the class.

Fortunately, Van Dessel did not pay too much attention to this reputationduring the recording of the fifth Marble Sounds, simply called ‘MarbleSounds’. Rumors had been buzzing for a while: Van Dessel had reinvented hisgroup sound during the lockdowns, it was said. As a result, the new songssounded better and more experienced than ever, they claimed. He wrote andplayed on three pianos, five tubas and seven nose flutes at the same time andproduced everything himself, so the gossip went.

Not a word of lying, because: listen here, friends, what a record! Five yearsafter the previous Marble Sounds, Van Dessel suddenly has a kind of midastouch: almost every song has the quality and envergure of a strong radiosingle. You know the modest but impressive opening song ‘Quiet’ from theseason finale of ‘Undercover’. ‘Soon It’ll Make Us Laugh’ – with a cameo byVan Dessels’ daughters and by a Bulgarian choir – starts as a false slow oneand just when you don’t expect anything special from it, the song breaks openand suddenly becomes so beautiful that – warning: metaphor not for sensitivesouls – it will make your hemorrhoids flap.

Am I exaggerating? Presumably. But I do that more often when something makesme happy and moved at the same time. As with ‘Axolotl’, that beautiful thingsfrom good people like Air and Damien Jurado combines.

And so it goes – for anyone with a heart and a stomach for clever, tastefulchamber music – from one high point to the next: ‘Jacket’ does, not onlythrough the ‘stop-start-stop’ montage and the autotune, on in a strict mannerBon Iver think.

Variety trumps: the songs alternately deal with the climate, science,ludduvuddu and ways to slow down. All sung by the same reassuringly warmvoice, which strikes out twice more at the end: ‘Priorat’ and ‘The Ever After’are bouncers of size, velvet and fortitude.

‘I probably won’t get any closer to myself as a musician,’ Van Dessel alsoknows. ‘Artists sometimes say they step out of their comfort zone, I feel likeI just stepped into my comfort zone with this record.’

Of how many bands is the fifth album the best? ‘Marble Sounds’ is a tour deforce, a new watering place on our emotional trail. Five stars for a recordwith ten world songs: value for money.

Can be viewed in the wild in November in the AB, the Roma and theHandelsbeurs. (fvd)

Pieter Van Dessel, Marble Sounds © Johannes Vande VoordeStatue Johannes VandeVoorde

Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Return of the Dream Canteen’

From Evil to Pepper: six months after their last record Kiedis and co.Another new one out, and it’s not a good one.

The irritating ‘jajajaja’ mantra in ‘Tippa My Tongue’ sets the tone: thePeppers copy and copy and copy their own sound until only a heavily breathinggreatest common denominator remains. ‘Eddie’ is about the late Van Halen ,but it is not a beautiful monument. ‘Fake as Fuk’ is as bland as its title,’My Cigarette’ their stupidest sing-along yet.

Josh Klinghoffer , the guitarist who was dumped by the Peppers, recentlytestified that the band is in a tight straitjacket: ‘There is a handbook withstrict rules: what is allowed with the sound of the global brand ‘RHCP’ andwhat is definitely not? Difficult to be creative then.’ That explains a figlike “Dream Canteen,” but doesn’t spell it right. (fvd)

Jean-Marie Aerts – ‘Domeztik’

He has 3,993 listeners per month on Spotify: a select group that appreciatesquality and keeps far away from the stage-horny contemporary pop music. Onewould think that a person with a track record like that of Jean-MarieAerts has a larger army of fans, but his work is too eclectic and the manhimself too idiosyncratic for that.

Although you wouldn’t say that about his recent leg ‘Domeztik’: the recordswings like crazy in an unabashedly old-fashioned way. ‘Domeztik’ is a tripfull of kaleidoscopic, often funky soundscapes, interspersed with jazzyguitars and weird but beautiful voices. Starring Jean-Marie herself, theGainsbourg of the Hageland, but also Kimberly Dhondt , the nightingaleof Evil Empire Orchestra, sings many stars from the sky. Voodoo music fromAarschot and the surrounding area, made with many friends: the fun justexplodes.

On October 14, Aerts celebrates his 70th birthday in Het Depot in Leuven, inthe company of all those many friends. He is now 71, but that should not spoilthe fun. In a just world he would sell out the Sportpaleis three times, butstill: everyone there! (mc)

LA Salami – ‘Ottoline’ ★★1/2☆☆

With a name like Lookman Adekunle Salami this Londoner was destined for acareer in the meat industry, but he opted for music: that other industry wherethe knives are always razor-sharp. For the forward singles – it Eagle-EyeCherry -like ‘Peace of Mind’ and the great ‘Desperate Times, MediocreMeasures’ – may our filleting instruments be put away. Salami uses a pleasantrap singing, which is very hard on that of Damon Albarn seems, like a kindof urban troubadour. The dubby pop of ‘Systemic Pandemic’ is a tone-in-tonesociology lesson, but Salami’s flow is careful not to get too pushy. Somewherehalfway through, however, the record collapses hopelessly: the sparkle getsbogged down in intolerable campfire misery and results in unappetisinguniformity. (sm)

Bill Callahan – ‘Reality’

Way down in Texas has Bill Callahan ‘Reality’ finished. Opener ‘FirstBird’ is pure family happiness. ‘Everyway’ starts with ‘ I feel somethingcoming on / A disease or a song’. ‘Lily’ centers on Callahan’s late motherand zooms in on the squeaky wheels of her stretcher. ‘Naked Souls’ describesan incel: ‘ Maybe he’ll buy another gun / Or maybe he’ll become / A policeman/ Or kill one’. ‘Partition’ in short? You can meditate, ventilate, microdoseand change clothes as much as you want, you can’t help yourself. And in’Planets’ the planets sing in Hawaiian, until the cosmos gets noticeablyfresher and the countertones trump. ‘Reality’ is also a missing album: thehorns and backings are well hidden. (gvn)

Oh Wonder – ’22 Make’

Title ’22 Make’ is reminiscent of ’22, A Million’ by Bon Iver and thatdoesn’t seem a coincidence: every track on this record lies on a bed ofglitchy electronics that still calms, a sound that reminds of previous OhWonder -to work. Also the unctuous harmony of Anthony and JosephineVander West sounds familiar, and at the same time more mature than before.The couple almost split during the pandemic, and that’s what you hear the mostin ‘365’ – violins come together like the dark gray clouds above the couple.Other songs are worked up with a lick of flute or a saxophone that doesn’twant to interfere. Oh Wonder does not amaze, nor does it disappoint. (jvl)

The 1975 – ‘Being Funny in a Foreign Language’ ★★1/2☆☆

The 1975 is a polarizing pop rock group from Manchester, fronted by an ex-junkie without a filter. ‘ Am I ironically woke? The butt of my joke?’ asksMatty Healy on their fifth and most focused record, ‘ Or am I just somepost-coke, average, skinny bloke?’ The 1975 confirms its status as aglorified cover band: ‘Part of the Band’ is Bon Iver with offensivelyrics, ‘The 1975’ looks suspiciously like ‘All My Friends’ from LCD SoundSystem ‘Happiness’ and ‘About You’ revive the eighties à la M83 , ‘OhCaroline’ and ‘I’m in Love with You’ had – aiai! – maroon 5 can be. (jmi)

MusicHe sold out the Lotto Arena in March without any problems, but now Snelleis once again moving to smaller venues. Together with the Lieve Jongens Band,the Dutchman plays his ‘Tot Nu Toe(r)’ in smaller clubs, and he also providesseveral stops in our country. “And then I hope to write a song for PommelienThijs or Camille. They are doing really well.”

A few years ago he still worked in a hotel for six hundred euros a month,today the Dutch rapper Snelle (27) strings together the successes. His twoalbums – ‘Twenty-four’ and ‘Lars’ – did extremely well, he was the firstartist from the Low Countries to receive his own Netflix documentary and lastsummer there was ‘Kijk Ons Nou’ – his monster hit with Metejoor . “And nowthere is that club tour”, says the Dutchman while slurping from a cappuccino.“We still do a show where you can dance and jump, but it’s more intimate.Secretly I like that the most: then you are closer to the audience, and – inmy opinion – it is more about the music. The audience gets to hear songs thatI’ve made from 2015 to now.”

positivity

The rapper is surprised that he is coming to Belgium with his tour. “I had noidea I’m so popular with you,” it sounds. “Or yes: when I filled the LottoArena, I realized that. (laughs) With the upcoming shows I want to furtherconquer Belgium.” Snel does not immediately have an explanation for hissuccess in our country. “My best guess is that you guys really like lyrics,and mine likes the positivity in them. But is that really the reason? Noidea.”

The love he gets in Belgium is – Lars assures us – mutual. “When I writesongs, it’s always in your country. ‘Kijk Ons Nou’ was also created duringsuch a session, my duet with Metejoor. I had met Joris a while before, in thefull corona period. He then played a one and a half meter concert at RockWerchter, and I was very impressed. I asked him to come over to one of mywriting sessions, and he did. Originally the intention was to come up withsongs for him. But it was so much fun that we suddenly made a song together.”

The two decided to perform the song as a duo as well. “As a result, I saw yourcountry a lot last summer,” the Dutchman laughs. “It definitely leaves mewanting more. In the future I would like to collaborate more often withBelgian artists. I would like to write a song for Pommelien Thijs or CAMILLE.They are really doing well, and I think their songs are so cool. What if theysay ‘no’ to my offer? Well, then I’m going to cry on the couch. (laughs)”

Rising energy costs are causing directors of theaters and concert halls a lotof headaches. For example, the bill of the Chassé Theater in Breda will risefrom 250,000 euros to one million euros after the turn of the year. If nosolution is found, the theater would even consider closing. “But that is alsothe extreme scenario,” says theater director Ruud van Meijel.

Ruud van Meijel and his employees hit the energy bill of one million euros rawon the roof. “We cannot absorb such an increase with normal operation of thetheater,” says Van Meijel. “We are currently exploring all the options outthere.”

There is a lot that needs to be done in that search. It varies from closing atheater to taking a critical look at the amount of lighting in the building.”We also think we are eligible for SME support from the government. Somethings are already leaking out. For example, the maximum compensation would be160,000 euros. That is a drop in the ocean, because then we still have a gapof 600,000 euros.” The theater is also discussing a solution with themunicipality.

“We will do everything we can to keep the theater open.”

Van Meijel realizes that the energy problem affects several places in society.”We are going to do everything we can to keep the theater open. How that willturn out? I don’t know. We have until the end of the year to find an adequatesolution,” it sounds positive.

Lower the temperature in the building by one degree? “The heating is not ourbiggest problem. We heat the building with a heat and cold storage. We cansmuggle a degree, but musicians can’t make music with frozen fingers.”

“If we switch on everything in three rooms, the meter will go crazy.”

The Chassé Theater is a major consumer of electricity. “If we switch oneverything in our three theater halls, the meter goes crazy. Theater lightingrequires a lot of power.”

The director does not want to think about a price increase for the tickets.”Everyone is currently dealing with rising prices. As a theater, we want toremain accessible to everyone. We have just not reached the visitor numbersbefore corona. But things are going better than expected. Especially in thisdifficult time, we as a theater have something to do. It would be a shame ifwe had to limit that because we can’t afford energy bills.”

Other theaters and concert halls in Brabant are also suffering from risingenergy costs. Theaters Tilburg, for example, has a joint contract with themunicipality and several schools. “We are now paying 250,000 euros. That willbe 375,000 euros next year and will rise to 500,000 euros in 2024. Compared to2019, our visitor numbers have fallen by a fifth,” says director Rob vanSteen.

The energy costs of the Verkade factory in Den Bosch take a big bite out ofthe budget. “In January we will increase from 100,000 to about 400,000 euros,”says director Jeffrey Meulman. “The stretch is gone, but fortunately we seethat the number of visitors is increasing again in recent weeks.”

“We also have to cool the halls in winter because of the warmth of> spectators.”

Also at pop stage 013 energy costs rise after the turn of the year.”Unfortunately yes. We are still lucky that the gas price is fixed until thebeginning of 2023,” says director Frens Frijns. “For electricity, we willincrease from 50,000 to 300,000 euros. We use more electricity than gas. Wehave to cool the halls by the warmth of the spectators, even in winter.” Thereis no question of closure. “Due to the many catch-up concerts, we are busierthan ever.”

Jochem Otten, director of the Speelhuis in Helmond, will spend four times asmuch for his gas and electricity next year. If he paid 60,000 euros in 2019,that will be around 240,000 euros in January. “Due to the decline inpurchasing power, we have less audience.”

The Theater aan de Parade in Den Bosch is currently being renovated. “That’sour luck. We had an energy bill of 180,000 euros. It would now have been aboutfive times higher. That would have been a real problem. The new theater willbe completely gasless,” says Alex Kühne.

the gentlemen of Today Inside discussed the suggestion to legalize cocainelast night. And there did VI -face Johan Derksen quite a number of strikingstatements. For example, he wondered whether cocaine is really much moreharmful than smoking a cigar. And not all viewers agreed with those comments.

On Friday, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema stated that the cocaine trade couldbe legalized. A few days later, Justice and Security Minister Dilan Yesilgözquickly dismissed that comment. minister Yesilgöz is convinced that thegovernment can win the fight against drug crime. And the men of _Today Inside_wanted to go back to the minister’s words last night.

Legalization of cocaine discussed at Today Inside

Because Derksen questions the certainty of Yesilgöz. “All my life, and I’mquite old, I’ve seen people around me using plenty of cocaine. They can buy itanywhere and the underworld is taking advantage of that.” After which Derksenargues for the legalization of the white powder. “Everyone is already usingit. Let the medical world make it clear how harmful this is. Is a nose full ofcocaine more harmful than smoking a cigar?”

Presenter Wilfred Genee and VI -guest Ben van der Burg react with surpriseto Derksen’s statements. After which René van der Gijp and Derksen emphasizethat too much alcohol or McDonalds are also bad for a person. “You can’tcompare McDonalds to cocaine. I think this is going quite far,” says Van derBurg.

Johan Derksen: ‘Don’t be afraid of cocaine’

“You shouldn’t be so afraid of cocaine. I grew up in a world where everyoneused cocaine.” Then he tells a story about a musician friend of his. “He hasplayed without his nose once in fifty years.”

According to Derksen, Halsema spoke these words about legalization out ofdesperation. “The underworld in Amsterdam is so active and that causes so muchcrime in such a city.” And according to Van der Gijp, people are stillresponsible for certain choices. “Everyone understands that everything thatsays ‘too’ is bad, right?”

Surprised reactions from VI viewers

Although Derksen and Van der Gijp were on the same wavelength, many react _VI_viewers in the same way as Genee and Van der Burg. Not everyone agrees withDerksen’s words. Incidentally, not everyone appears to be againstlegalization. But comparing cocaine with cigars, many find that crazy.

Again: you can’t compare cocaine with cigars 🤯!!!!> #todayinside> https://t.co/AuTkRwQ9Jr>> — Michael🇳🇱🇺🇦🇪🇺 ᴹⱽ¹🏆🏆 (@mslice bean) October 13,> 2022

You shouldn’t be so afraid of cocaine, says Derksen. I really don’t agree> with him> #todayinside>> — Susan Geraeds (@superzu) October 13,> 2022

Too much cocaine is just as bad as smoking too much, says Derksen. Sure> dude. If you say so, it will be.> #todayinside>> — Jeroen (@Jeroens_tweets) October 13,> 2022

“You shouldn’t be so afraid of cocaine?!” Sorry, using drugs = perpetuating> crime!> #todayinside>> — Marieke1968🇳🇱 (@MariekeH1968) October 13,> 2022

Well, that cocaine discussion isn’t about anything. Doesn’t do the program> any good. What nonsense talk. Think Kieft sees it differently.> #todayinside>> — gert (@perra94) October 13,> 2022

This was the umpteenth time that> #derksen> claimed that virtually everyone uses cocaine.>> Not in my area. So stop with that nonsense.>> By the way, legalization is the right way.> #todayinside>> — Berthold Wennink (@BertholdWennink) October 13,> 2022

You can watch Today Inside via KIJK.

Corona is once again on the rise: one in twenty people is currently infected,says Ernst Kuipers. Earlier this week, the Minister of Health, Welfare andSport raised ‘the alarm level of corona’, wants to prick faster and thereforejoined the talk show last night. On 1. What is he advocating? Giving a box.And what happened to the vaccination of fellow guest Maarten van Rossem?

Ernst Kuipers wants to speed up the corona vaccination campaign. But what doesthat alert level mean and how does it ensure that society does not have to belocked again? His presence, incidentally, attracted barely 100,000 viewersmore than Johan Derksen Today Inside who talked about smoking a cigar andcocaine.

Ernst Kuipers much praised, but not anymore

At the beginning of the corona time (and also last summer), Ernst Kuipersfrequently joined talk shows such as On 1 and Jinek. At the time, however,he was chairman of the National Network Acute Care and Kuipers was oftenpraised for his clear explanation. In that position, relaxation of the coronameasures still sounded ‘like music to his ears’ last June. Now, as Minister ofHealth and successor to Hugo de Jonge, he is responsible for the measures. Andhe is no longer praised, but is dismissed by many as a liar (and worse).

“We are back at alert level 2. That means observing basic measures?” explained_On 1_ presenter Sven Kockelmann Ernst Kuipers for. “Keep distance?” Theminister: “Yes. Test if you have symptoms. Today someone told me ‘I was on thetrain and a lot of people were coughing in the compartment with me’. Then mysum is that the chance, if they have not been tested, that they have corona isabout 50 percent.”

Shake hands but leave it behind for a while?

“And shake hands? Also leave it out for a while?”, Sven Kockelmann wanted toknow. Ernst Kuipers, with a clenched fist forward: “I would advise you to givea box.”

That does not exactly sound like a heavy corona measure of course (and it isnot a measure either). The approach to vaccinating against corona is now moreserious. From Monday, anyone in the 40 to 60 age group who wishes to do so cangradually report to the GGD for a repeat shot (or first shot if you didn’t getit before).

We are now in corona alarm level 2.> @ministerVWS Ernst> Kuipers: “That is a signal to everyone that the number of contagious people> has increased. I recommend to be careful. We want to stay away from the> measures as much as possible.” #On> 1> pic.twitter.com/kXIioVbTE9>> — Op1 (@op1npo) October 13,> 2022

Maarten van Rossem gets nothing on the mat again

Every Dutch person receives a letter about vaccination, except for one.Maarten van Rossem, who presents himself Subway yesterday also spoke aboutthe new transgender law, was with On 1 to Ernst Kuipers. “Let’s listen tothis expert by experience about the different rounds”, minister Van Rossemgave the floor. ‘As usual, I had not received a letter,’ reported the man who’was on the phone at the GGD last March’. “Probably there is a governmentagency that prevents that. But my wife did get one. He called. Of course I wasterrified that I would push ahead again, so I thought ‘never mind’. My wifesaid ‘can my husband come too?’ That’s what happened, I was allowed to go too.The GGD had a great location, where it was – I would say – not really busy,but there were quite a lot of people anyway. In addition, there was a wholenew procedure, in which the persons to be vaccinated were lined up in rows.The vaccinating staff drove by in a cart along that row.”

“It goes a lot faster, isn’t it”, Kockelmann expected. Van Rossem: „Not onlythat. But, as you know, you have to sit there for ten minutes to see if youdie. So you can stay in the same chair. That’s nice. I have to say: it ranlike clockwork.”

Does Ernst Kuipers expect a new lockdown?

“Nice to hear,” Ernst Kuipers responded. “Compliments to the GGD.” But doesthe minister actually fear a new lockdown? Fleur Agema of the PVV thinks thatthat will almost be the case. Kuipers does not see it that way. He reportedlast night that the biggest problem for society is the number of sick peoplesitting at home. As far as he is concerned, the pressure on healthcare is muchless the case with the current corona variant than we have seen in the pasttwo years.

He wants to say to Agema: “There is no lockdown at all yet. We also want tostay away from that. There is currently a proposal in the House ofRepresentatives for an amendment to the public health law. That is still beingdiscussed. Until that law is in place, there can be no new lockdown at all.”After which Ernst Kuipers ended a bit more cryptically with: “Only anemergency measure.”

For those who want to look back on Op1, you can do so here.

As a little boy, comedian Jochem Myjer already knew how to make people laugh.At a violin concert, for example, his audience was not clapping, but above alllaughing very hard. That humor felt like his lifebuoy for Jochem, he says inan interview with Coen Verbraak in the TV program Survive. “I was a weirdkid at school. I was also bullied.”

The comedian also says that he was sometimes beaten up. “Then I sat on my bikeand they said: stop you. Then I just got a slap on the face.” In his youthMyjer felt little connection with the rest of his classmates. “I was reallydifferent. During the breaks I often went for a walk along the IJssel on myown.” But a sense of loneliness? The comedian doesn’t know that. “I’ve been ontour for 25 years, sleeping in hotels on my own three days a week. I like thesolitude.”

Jochem Myjer about his tumor operation

But when a tumor is discovered in his spinal cord in 2011, Jochem Myjer getsthe fright of his life. After a risky 13-hour surgery, most of the tumors wereremoved, but it changed his life forever. The busy person has little energyafter his illness. “It just seems like a bad fairy tale,” says the comedianwith a laugh. “I am one of the busiest people in the Netherlands and then Iundergo an operation that gives me an energy problem. It took me a long timeto accept it. I think my energy level is now 50 percent of what it wasbefore.”

However, the difficult period also brought him a lot. “It’s a huge lesson. I> never had to think about my energy, but now I do. I live much more> consciously. If you can only do one thing a day, you are enjoying that one> thing much more. Something I often do is go out into nature on my own. Then> I pack a backpack and I’m gone for four days. I don’t feel handicapped there> for a while.’

‘You really don’t have to run a marathon to be happy’

Sometimes Jochem Myjer still longs for his old self, but in general he ishappier than before. The documentary images from 2019 about his hundredthperformance in the Royal Theater Carré in Amsterdam only confirm this. “It wasnot balanced at all. When I watched that documentary, I thought: what are youdoing man? You are destroying everything. Then I decided to do everythingdifferently. I did that too. I started playing less and less physically.”

Playing a hundredth show in Carré certainly gave Myjer a kick, but when hestarted reflecting, the comedian came to an interesting conclusion. “Iwondered: is it actually cooler than the first time I was in Theater Pepijn inThe Hague? The answer to that is: no.” When he compares the happiness of agood show with taking his children to football on Saturday, he sees littledifference in that either. “There is no degree of happiness. I try to find itcloser to home. So now I’m not going to hike to Norway for four days, but justto the Veluwe. That’s really beautiful. I keep getting my happiness more andmore from the simple things. You really don’t have to run a marathon to behappy: running once is also fun.”

When Joey Roukens (40), a pharmacist’s son from Vlaardinger-Ambacht, was 10years old, he received a book as a gift. The great symphonies it was called,picked up by his mother at the local V&D. The diligent piano student leafedthrough it daily and came to the realization that one day he would also haveto make such a symphony. In fact, he should have started quickly. He was in ahurry.

‘I knew: when I grow up to become a composer, I will become a composer ofsymphonies’, Roukens says thirty years later. ‘Piano concertos or chambermusic interested me much less. I saw the symphony as a sacred medium, thehighest you could achieve. But then I read that Mozart already wrote his firstsymphony at the age of eight. Shit, I thought, I’m two years late! AndSchubert was 16 or so. I really had to hurry.’

As a 16-year-old high school student, he finally considered himself matureenough. Two years later came the completion, everything neatly orchestrated.The piece was also performed by musicians from the Netherlands PhilharmonicOrchestra in a series for young composers in Lantaren Window in Rotterdam.Only he got one urgent piece of advice: Joey, don’t name it Symphony No. 1.’The programmer thought that was quite pretentious. He was right, of course. Isee it as a childhood sin, it’s a naive mix of Igor Stravinsky, Morton Feldmanand Tan Dun. But when I found the sketches again, I was also surprised at howdetailed it all had already been.’

‘The first’

Now that ‘real’ full-length symphony that may bear the name ‘the First’ ishere. The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra will premiere the piece – fortyminutes, four movements – on Friday in De Doelen. Only the circumstances forthe composer are less pleasant. It is very uncertain whether Roukens himselfcan be there. Since the beginning of August he has been “a prisoner in a headfull of noise,” he says.

‘I woke up and suddenly it was like having a vacuum cleaner against my ears. Icould no longer bear large groups of people and city noise; I couldn’t playthe piano anymore, I couldn’t go to a cafe. It is a loud ultrasonic beep, asound like a mosquito plug, but much louder and wider. The tone is too highand diffuse to determine what note it is. A low c, I could have lived withthat; then I would just have built all my pieces around that tone.’

During the interview of more than an hour, he gets up six times and moves backand forth. ‘That added to it. If I sit for ten minutes, I just have to get up.I get an uncomfortably warm feeling. The doctors don’t know what it is, itmust be psychosomatic. It’s a wiring flaw in the body that needs to be fixed.”

Dan, laughing: ‘Somehow it is a beautiful story: a composer with tinnitus whocannot sit. If I could go to the premiere, the audience sees me move from mychair all the time, they think: what kind of idiot is that? That’s why I’mglad I can tell this story, so everyone knows what’s wrong with me.’

Phantom sound

Tinnitus, a phantom noise as a symptom of physical or mental strain, can goaway, but there is no medical treatment to cure it. The multitude of possiblecauses makes targeted treatment to alleviate the symptoms more difficult. Allkinds of therapy are possible, but there is not yet one effective pill. Mostpeople learn to live with it, but for those who are constantly busy with theirears, that can be more difficult – including in the case of Roukens.

Unabashedly eclectic

Joey Roukens is one of the most played and beloved composers in theNetherlands. His work has been played by the Concertgebouw Orchestra and theNew York Philharmonic, among others. His style is unabashedly eclectic: likeno other he is able to combine pop influences, such as a compelling pulse, andreveling orchestral playing. His double piano concerto was a great success InUnison (2018) for Lucas and Arthur Jussen, which was recently released on CD.

The greatest panic is over. He’s a little better, but the tone still keeps himawake. ‘Fear amplifies everything. I live alone and have no girlfriend now whocan help me put things into perspective. It sounds very pathetic, but therehave been days when I thought: I don’t want to live like this. It was thatbad. I’m relieved that those thoughts are gone. But I’m still gloomy, myenergy level is minimal. I always liked whimsical music with lots of notes, myown music is like that too. If I set something up now, it’s calm piano, forexample Frederic Mompou.

‘I studied psychology. That’s what my parents wanted me to study somethingserious. You would think that as a psychologist you are trained to recognizepatterns and therefore you should be able to find the tools to pull yourselfout of the shit, but that is difficult. You know that it is better to acceptyour ailment than to fight against it, but how do you translate that intopractice? I now do those mindfulness-like exercises: focusing very much onsimple household tasks. Washing the dishes and then being very conscious aboutit, that helps not to get lost in my stream of thoughts.’

Vacuum cleaner sound

How did he get the beep? ‘That is also puzzling. It was already there in thesummer of 2021, but the tone didn’t bother me. I knew the horror stories andconsidered myself lucky that I didn’t have it to that extent. In July of thisyear, my uncle took me to a Joe Jackson concert and it struck me how loud itall came in. I felt like I was being pulled a lot. For the first time, I wasin danger of missing a deadline, even though it was a relatively simple, shortpiece for a small ensemble. I became a zombie with all kinds of complaints.And then suddenly there was that vacuum cleaner.

‘In the late summer I was on holiday on the Greek island of Kefalonia. Thatdid me good. In my sleepless nights, the sounds that would have disturbed mein the past now gave me comfort and peace. The crickets and crowing roosterdistracted me from that squeak. I then decided that I would not let my lifetake over. That abyss won’t come back.’

Requiem

Fortunately, the score had already been handed in when De Piep presenteditself. That also applied to that other big piece of his that will premierethis fall, again in such a loaded genre. At the invitation of the NovemberMusic festival in Den Bosch, he wrote a requiem, the Mass for the Dead. Thatpiece will be performed by the Nederlands Kamerkoor and Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

‘I also always wanted to make a requiem. I just really like that form and findit interesting that when composers make music that should offer comfort, theyalways go back to the old, archaic. It is as if the text invites you to do so.There is often a lot of counterpoint, also in my piece. I wanted to embracethat tradition and pay some sort of tribute to it.’

But anyone who composes a requiem in 2022 will be left with a Latin and Greektext that for many no longer rhymes with the experience of faith. ‘I filteredthe text. There’s a lot of ridiculous in that. I’ve taken all the godly out ofit. There is no Judgment Day with remembrance. If you let all that in, itbecomes a kind of theatre, that’s not my approach. I sincerely want it to beof comfort. I’ve also put in some comforting English poems by Robert LouisStevenson and Mark Twain.

‘Dominion’

‘The challenge is to bring the requiem to this time. I’m an atheist, but youcan’t escape that Christian connection, so I wondered what to do with a wordlike “Domine.” Was that supposed to refer to God? I came to the conclusionthat I could also interpret it symbolically, as a container concept ofeverything you can rely on.’

But first the symphony. He also immediately came up with a nickname andsubtitle: the ‘kaleidoskopische’. All his influences, from swollen lateromanticism, timbre explosions to post-minimal with firm rhythm, can be foundin it. The symphony ends as it began: with a single thin, high note.

The amount can then be determined. Duck.

TVThe mother of Tony Hughes, a victim of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, is nothappy with the recently released Netflix series ‘Dahmer – Monster: The JeffreyDahmer Story’. It is unclear to her how the series could ever be made.

The sixth episode of Netflix series ‘Dahmer’ tells the story of 31-year-olddeaf man Tony Hughes. It shows how Jeffrey Dahmer meets Tony and starts arelationship with him. The show implies that when Hughes tries to leave aftera night together, Dahmer kills him with a hammer. The episode ends with Dahmercooking and eating Hughes liver after donating money to the quest set up byHughes mother after her son’s sudden disappearance.

In reality, now 85-year-old Shirley Hughes, who was teaching Bible studies inMilwaukee at the time her son was killed, claims that there are manyinaccuracies in the series. “I don’t see how they were able to make thisseries,” the woman said. “I don’t understand how they can use our names andbring such things out without consulting us as relatives of the victims.” Dueto her distaste for Netflix, the woman has also joined a group of people whoserelatives (sixteen in all) were murdered by Dahmer, who vehemently opposeNetflix’s dramatization of the facts. Especially since the creators of theseries didn’t consult them.

(Read more below the photo.)

Rodney Burford as Tony Hughes and Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in the Netflixseries Dahmer © Netflix

Ask for advice

According to the lead actors of the hit series, including creator Ryan Murphyand Dahmer actor Evan Peters, the series did strive to put the stories of thevictims and the trauma of their families at the center of the production.Nevertheless, without the input of the family members.

For example, the nephew of Dahmer victim Errol Lindsey, Eric Perry, wrote onTwitter that his family members discovered the series when Netflix released iton September 21, and it quickly became the platform’s most-watched show.Without being notified in advance. But Perry’s niece also wrote separately onTwitter that the show felt “harsh and careless.” “Netflix was not required toconsult the victims’ families because the events portrayed in it are public.But the way it happened has traumatized the loved ones of those killed byDahmer again,” Perry added.

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Watch the trailer for ‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ here:

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A big list of releases, this week. There is something for almost everyone, ifyou are interested in movies.

The Woman King

The Woman King tells the extraordinary story of the Agojie, an all-femalewarrior unit who protected the African kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th centuryand who were known for their fighting skills and heroism. In _the woman king,_Based on true events, we follow the emotional journey of General Nanisca(Oscar® winner Viola Davis). She is preparing the next generation of warriorsfor battle against an enemy that threatens to destroy their lives. Some thingsare worth fighting for…

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande

Her husband Robert provided Nancy with a house, a family and – on the face ofit – a good life. But good sex wasn’t on the menu. When Robert dies, Nancycomes up with a plan. She goes in search of adventure and the satisfaction shehas been missing all these years. And she finds that adventure in the form ofa sex worker named Leo Grande. They meet in an anonymous hotel room. Leo looksjust like in his picture in real life, but Nancy hadn’t counted on good sexand a good conversation. Leo has an opinion about everything and although hedoesn’t always tell the truth, Nancy likes him. And he her. Her sexual self-confidence grows and Nancy begins to relax. During the secret agreements, thepower dynamics shift and the meticulously constructed facades slowly crumble.

Competencia Oficial

In the hope of eternal fame, a billionaire sets his sights on making a hitmovie and assembles an all-star team for it. He hires the famous filmmakerLola Cuevas to direct the ambitious project. In addition, two great actorswith even bigger egos are arranged: Hollywood heartthrob Félix Rivero andgroundbreaking theater actor Iván Torres. Both are legendary, but by no meansthe best of friends. Lola puts them to the test in a series of increasinglyeccentric challenges in preparation for the shooting days. Felix and Iván areconfronted with both each other and their own achievements and the question iswhether anyone will be left when the cameras really start rolling.

Halloween Ends

Four years after the events in Halloween Kills, Released last year, Laurielives with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and Michael Myers hasnever been heard from again. Laurie is busy writing her memoir. For decades,Michael has horrified her and affected her life, but Laurie has finallydecided to let go of her anger and fear and enjoy life. But when a young man,Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell; The Hardy Boys, Virgin River), is suspectedof murdering his nanny, it sets off a chain reaction of violence and fear.Laurie will have to confront evil once and for all.

Sea of ​​Time

How strong is love when everything falls away? When their worst nightmarebecomes reality, a young couple desperately tries to survive. Forty yearslater, the former lovers meet again.

Totem

Eleven-year-old Ama from Rotterdam has an exciting and magical adventure whenshe tries to escape the police who want to bring her and her family back toSenegal, the country they come from. On her ramble, she is joined by a giantporcupine she calls Totem, who becomes her protector and guide.

The Drover ‘s Wife

The life of a lonely country woman suddenly becomes difficult when her husbandhas to leave home for a few months. Deep in Australia’s unique yet terrifyingwilderness, pregnant Molly Johnson suddenly finds herself all alone. Inaddition to taking care of her four children, she also has their piece ofland; the pride they have worked so hard for. This country must continue toprotect them from strangers, floods and dangerous beasts. Will she survive inthese difficult circumstances?

el houb

When the Moroccan-Dutch Karim is caught by his father with a man, he rushes tohis parental home to start the conversation. But how do you discuss theelephant in the room in a family that by definition avoids sensitive topics?

Nelly Rapp

Nelly and her dog London are spending the autumn break in her Uncle Hannibal’sbig old house. Nelly soon notices that her uncle does not lead a quiet life.He’s a member of a secret society that tracks down monsters, it turns outthere’s even a vampire living in the basement! The tough and quirky Nelly isnot afraid of monsters. In fact, instead of running home screaming, Nellywants nothing more than to become a monster cop. But there’s one problem:Hannibal thinks Nelly is still far too young for this macabre profession. Canshe convince Hannibal that she is brave enough for the task? A creepy andfunny cinema movie to enjoy with the whole family.

The Great Quest for Captain Opa

An exciting animation adventure for the whole family! Anderson & Nielson havea good life in the tunnel, filling their days singing songs, eating jam andteasing each other. One day they are visited by a conductor. She is verystrict and she wants them to leave immediately. Anderson & Nielson come upwith a plan: Nielson’s grandfather, the legendary Captain Grandpa, can surelysave them! Anderson & Nielson embark on a wild adventure to find CaptainGrandpa and save their home in the tunnel. Their grand quest takes the friendsto the most bizarre places, such as the North Pole, the tropical south andeven heavenly heights! Wherever they travel, they always run into trouble,whether it’s hungry polar bears, aggressive cherubs, or other challenges. Butthen it turns out that help is closer than they realize. It lives in thetunnel, has a hundred heads and more than fourteen legs…

The Club of Sinterklaas and the Race against the Clock

Sint and his Pieten find themselves in a real race against time when PietjeFernando breaks the clock of Sinterklaas. A true disaster, because as long asit stands still, the Saint magic is gone. Will the evening be able to continuethis year?

Big Trip 2: A Great Adventure

This fall break, Patrick the big brown bear, Oscar the hare, stork Karl andPanda take you on an important assignment to bring home a Grizzly baby. Twojealous vultures do everything they can to thwart the trip, but the bestparcel deliverers in the world clearly don’t know them yet!