Monique Krüs
composer
Scene from Pirate Queen (2024)
Monique Krüs
composer
Scene from Pirate Queen (2024)
With Davo van Peursen, CEO of Donemus
A new chapter in my career as a composer: I signed with Donemus, a household name for Dutch music in the Netherlands as well as internationally. Some team members I've known personally for quite some time, so it feels very familiar to start working with them. Their recent initiative CoCommmissions Network which focusses on collaboration and co-producing is exactly what I need as an opera composer. CEO Davo van Peursen and I are celebrating with a decent glass of cava!Check their website for the latest on Dutch Music
2025
May 17
Masterclass
International Lied Festival
Zeist (Nl)
May 5 - 20
Reprise in schools and
City hall of Wolvega(Nl)
2024
Première
October 5 Wilminktheater Enschede
Tour through the Netherlands
2023
November 17 and 24
String Quartet
with the Kreissler String Quartet
•Van Houten Kerk Weesp
• Zonnehuis, Amsterdam
November 10
Premiere of 'Huis van de rijzende zon'
Postland Ensemble
• Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht
Tour through Holland season 23-24
October 10
String Quartet
with the Kreisler String Quartet
• Zimihc Theater Stefanus Utrecht
and • De Schakel, Vleuten
2022
December 10
Oratorium written for Utrecht 900
Domcantorij, soloists, orchestra
• Domkerk Utrecht
December 1
Bauwien van der Meer and friends
With Je vis, je meurs
•Etcetera Records
December 1
Music theatre for kids
with Sinfonietta Vivazza
• Köln, Kulturbunker
September 11
Oratorium written for Utrecht 900
mixed choir, soloists, orchestra
• Geertekerk Utrecht
September 1
Part of cycle for women choir on poems
by Miek Smilde.
Performed by choir The Angels
• Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam
July 20
song cycle on 3 sonnets by French poet
Louise Labé for soprano, harp, organ
and string quartet
• Haarlem, Philharmonie
June 15
Preview of the oratorium written for
Utrecht 900 for mixed choir,
soloists, orchestra
• Domkerk Utrecht
April 30
Premiere of the song cycle on 3 sonnets
by French poet Louise Labe for
soprano, harp, organ and string quartet
tour through Hollland
April 24
Anne & Zef public performance
April 21/22 school performances
Residentie Orkest conducted by
Monique Krüs
April 10
Premiere of 2 songs from song cycle on
poems by German poet Doris Runge
Eric Reddet, tenor and
Abigail Reddet, piano
April 1 and 22
Postland Ensemble,
Utrechts Requiem Kwartet
March 25
Utrechts Kamerkoor
• Pieterskerk Utrecht
With Margarita Celmina
and Jose Cavalete
The Internationaal Lied Festival Zeist invited me for a masterclass about my lied Lunam, ne quidem Lunam, commissioned in 2016 as compulsory work by the International Vocal Competition Den Bosch.Inspiration for the composition was the famous Jeroen Bosch painting The Garden of earthly delights, the right and darkest panel. May 17, 2025 I got to work with supertalented liedduo Margarita Celmina and José Cavalete, students of the Maastricht Liedklas. and had an wonderful conversation with Leo Samama about my work as an introduction. A fantastic afternoon!
Mireille Bittar as Anne and
Koen Masteling as Zef
Ten years and many new productions after the premiere,Anne & Zef is back in the Netherlands with performances at schools. With Mireille Bittar as Anne and Koen Masteling as Zef. In the wonderful original staging by Corina van Eijk, artistic leader of Opera Spanga: "This May we will be performing Anne & Zef by Monique Krüs and Ad de Bont. We have had this moving and important performance in our repertoire for 10 years now. Reflect on 80 years of freedom in the spring of 2025 with this moving and relevant performance that tells the story of the Jewish Anne and the Islamic Zef, two teenagers who share their dreams and fears."
Dutch national newspaper NRC made a list of favorite classical concerts of 2024. And lo and behold: Pirate Queen is number 3!
A huge success for all who helped create this wonderful production by Nederlandse Reisopera, Theater Sonnevancl and Dawn Collective
Francis van Broekhuizen as Pirate Queen
"Dutch Touring Opera Company hits the bull's eye with Pirate Queen." Pirate Queen, Krüs' latest opera, had its premiere at the Wilminktheater in Enschede, on 5 October 2024 with a full house and raving reviews! With 3 of Krüs' favorite sopranos: Francis van Broekhuizen, Lilian Farahani and Aylin Sezer in the leadroles. Libretto by Xandra Knebel and Daniel van Klaveren. Tour through the Netherlands, more information here.
© Photo Sanne Peper
The Nederlandse Reisopera invited Krüs to compose a new family opera based on the theme of the Pirate Queen. A co-production with Theater Sonnevanck and Dawn Collective. With a dream cast: Francis van Broekhuizen, Lilian Farahani and Aylin Sezer in the leadroles. Libretto by Xandra Knebel and Daniel van Klaveren.
With Daniel van Klaveren, director and Anu Tali/Kent Moussault, conductor. More information here
Premiere October 5, 2024, tour through Holland.
Lilian Farahani and
Francis van Broekhuizen
Dag van de Componist 15 June 2024: Live NPO Klassiek interview at 14.45h
With host Hans Haffmans
A nice portrait of me at Dutch National Radio during the Day of the Composer. My share starts appr. around 14.45h.
With host Hans Haffmans I talked about my career as a soprano, making the switch to fulltime composer and about my latest opera The Pirate Queen for the Dutch Travel Opera Company with a.o Francis van Broekhuizen and Lilian Farahani. Check the playlist:
The Utrechts Requiem is a wonderful initiative by director Ellen Blom. Stories of people who had a bad start in life and found the strength to make something of it are set to music. This November will be the fourth edition,' Kanaries'. Krüs already created several compositions in 2019 and 2021, now followed by 'Huis van de rijzende zon' on a text by Herman van Tongerloo. With the Postland Ensemble.
This Fall the Appeltaartconcerten organize a series of concerts with the Kreissler String Quartet with Elisabeth Perry as first chair. Next to Philip Glass and Astor Piazolla they will perform Krüs' first string quartet The Suite of the Sea.
Apple crumble after the concert!
For soprano Bauwien van der Meer I composed the song cycle Je vis, je meurs on poems by Louise Labé. Great reviews for the original performance with string quartet, organ and harp; now an arrangement for high voice and piano is available! Read all the reviews and purchase your PDF here!
Dutch soprano Bauwien van der Meer was inspired by Lili Boulangers Pie Jesu with its unusual orchestration and invited 3 female composers to arrange or compose for the same setting. This powerful combination was recorded at the Orgelpark Amsterdam.
With song cycle Je vis, je meurs by Monique Krüs. According to Dutch national newspaper de Volkskrant ‘Van der Meer can make full use of her broad expressiveness in Je vis, je meurs, three intense songs by Monique Krüs’. Read the whole review and more here.
Watch 3 clips from the concert here.
Ali der Affe
Sinfonietta Vivazza will perform the successful show 'Erdnüsschen, das Abenteuer im Tierpark' again.
Simeon das Chamäleon
OK