Henriëtte Bosmans and her circle

Although all the composers here are Dutch, this may nevertheless be an item of interest for international audiences because of the quality of the music and that of the performances. Henriette Bosmans was one of the most important composers (and pianists) of this century in the Netherlands; her works were performed under such great conductors as Willem Mengelberg, Ernest Ansermet and Pierre Monteux. For years she formed a celebrated duo with the famous French singer Noemie Perugia to whom she dedicated a great many of her brilliant lieder, most of which are to be found here. Willem Pijper was her major teacher, Lex van Delden one of her many great admirers (he dedicated his Vocalise to her). Berthe Frensel Wegener-Koopman was the mother of one of her intimate composer friends, Emmy Frensel Wegener who herself did not write songs - her mother, however, did and the very special quality of these songs made us decide to include three striking examples in this program. Soprano Julia Bronkhorst is well-known as an opera singer and shows herself here as the ideal interpreter of these highly interesting Lieder, with Maarten Hillenius as the perfect piano partner.