Monique Krüs
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      • Nachtegaal en de Keizer
      • Corto Maltese
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      • Apenootje/Erdnüsschen, music theatre for kids 6-8
      • The Tsar, his wife, her lover and his head
      • God's Videotheque
      • Soeraki, music theatre for kids 6-8
      • Eine Odyssee for young singers 14-19
      • Lippijn, a short opera buffa for mixed choir
      • Die rote Kaiserin
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Monique Krüs is a versatile composer of operas, chamber music, orchestral music, songs, music for choir and for media.
She is also a soprano, vocal coach, conductor.
Her music is available at Lunam Publishing.

'Monique Krüs is zelf een sopraan die een indrukwekkende carrière achter zich heeft en precies weet wat ze met de menselijke stem kan uitdrukken.'
('Monique Krüs herself is a soprano who has had an impressive career and knows exactly what she can express with the human voice.')

​'Youth opera with heartwarming music', 'Anne's Theme on the viola is very moving'

'Monique Krüs' Klangsprache ist von einer unaufdringlichen Dringlichkeit und schleicht sich auf leisen Sohlen unter die Haut'


'Krüs' flippige, originelle Partitur...ist ebenso gut zu singen, wie sie klingt'

NEWS

Videos from Magnificat at the Domchurch

ZING Magazine: "Beslist een verrijking van het repertoire"
Et exsultavit
Duet: Quia respexit
Last part: Sicut locutus est - Gloria
More information on the website of the publisher: Lunam Publishing

CD La Lumiere with Je vis. je meurs NOW ON SPOTIFY / January 2023

For the CD 'La Lumière' - inspired by Lili Boulanger's Pie Jesu - Opusklassiek.nl
wrote an indepth review about initiator
and soprano Bauwien van der Meer and
her musical background.
And about the Krüs song cycle Je vis, je meurs..
Read the whole review here. (In Dutch)

NOW OUT ON SPOTIFY!


Utrecht Magnificat in Domkerk / Dec. 10, 2022

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After the tremendous success at the premiere
on September 11, 2022 the oratorium Utrecht Magnificat
will now be performed bij the famous choir of the
Domcantorij and orchestra on December 10, 2022 in the Dom Cathedral in Utrecht. Soloists Esther Kouwenhoven, soprano
and Merel van Schie, alto will join again.
Conductor is Remco de Graas.
Entrance is free, the concert will start at 15.30 and the Magnificat is app 25 minutes.

More information on the site of the Domcantorij

CD Release La Lumière with a.o. Je vis, je meurs /Dec. 1, 2022

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Dutch soprano Bauwien van der Meer was inspired by Lili Boulanger's Pie Jesu with its unusual orchestration and invited 3 female composers to arrange or compose (Je vis, je meurs.) for the same setting. This powerful combination was recorded at the Orgelpark Amsterdam and is available from December 1st on at Etcetera Records.
Volkskrant review:
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 here.

Utrecht Magnificat premiere / September 11, 2022

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The Bachcantate-diensten in Utrecht (NL) invited me to write an oratorium on the liturgical text of the Magnificat to celebrate their 55th anniversary and also the 900th birthday of the city of Utrecht.
For mixed choir, soprano, alto and symphonic orchestra.
September 11, 2022 will be the premiere in the Geertekerk in Utrecht.

Equinox at poem collection presentation / September 1, 2022

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Equinox for women choir , a cycle on beautiful poems by Miek Smilde, was  performed at the presentation of her new poem collection. Miek's own choir The Angels sang a capella in the Duif Chirch in Amsterdam. watch them on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WNktTmPQZ4

2 Songs on poems by Doris Runge, German poet-laureate / April 10, 2022

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April 10 famous French/Dutch tenor Eric Reddet and his wife Abigail opened the season of the Voorhaven Concerts near Amsterdam with a.o. 2 Songs on beautiful poems by Doris Runge, German poet-laureate.

Anne & Zef with the Residentie Orkest in The Hague / April 2022.

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In the Theatre Hall of Amare, the brand new music temple in The Hague, Anne & Zef will be performed April 24th, 2022 in the original staging by Corina van Eijk. Schoolperformances on April 21/22.
With Mireille Bittar as Anne and Benjamin de Wilde as Zef.
The composer will conduct herself and she is looking forward to it! Tickets: Amare Den Haag   Read more about the opera here


New commission for soprano Bauwien van der Meer, April 30, 2022

PictureLouise Labé (1524 - 1566)
Highly talented soprano/conductor/organizer Bauwien van der Meer invited me to compose a song cycle for soprano, string quartet, harp and organ. An unusual but very interesting instrumentation, also used bu Fauré in his Requiem. Part of which will be sung by Bauwien in the same concertseries, with the premiere on April 30, 2022. Text of the cycle is by Louise Labé, a French poet from the 16th century who created her own society of poets, 'l'Ecole de Lyon'.
Check the playlist!

Nachtegaal en de Keizer in Utrecht November 21, 2021 and season 21/22

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Photo @ Ronald Knapp
De Nachtegaal en de Keizer, family show of the famous fairy tale with Karin Strobos and musicians from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra will be performed again November 21, 2021 in Utrecht, Theater Musketon, 11.00 am.
Check the Speellijst of the Appeltaartconcerten

Utrecht Requiem 3rd edition: premiere September 19, 2021

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2 years ago I wrote 2 parts of the Utrecht Requiem 2nd Edition. Stories of Utrecht citizens who struggled with life but found a new way to look forward. Sept 19 the 3rd edition will see its premiere in Utrecht, Podium Oost for which I wrote 2 pieces. Check their site for concerts.

Amsterdam Opera Choir: Masterclasses

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The Amsterdam Opera Koor with whom I have done some wonderful concerts, invited me for 2 masterclasses. What a pleasure! Working on a.o. L'Elisir d'amore we had a lot of fun!

Commission for the Kreisler Quartet: String Quartet Sea Suite

PictureElisabeth Perry, concert master of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
June 22, 2021 my first string quartet Sea Suite (8'30) had its premiere by the wonderful musicians of the Kreisler Quartet, with renowned Elisabeth Perry as first violinist.
Three parts:  Seashells, Coral, Starfish: A calm, mediterranean sea, seashells are dancing on the shore - Coral on the bottom of the ocean, quiet, fish are swimming aroound it - the Starfish floats relaxed in the water, it twists and turns.

Leader music for Art Show on hidden treasures

For AVROTROS Dutch National TV I created the leadermusic of Treasures from the Shadow, where art, hidden in the basement of museums, is discovered.
Like a drawing by Rembrandt, until now packed away in a drawer of the Teyler Museum in Haarlem (NL). From May 25, 2021, every Tuesday.

The Nightingale and the Emperor: performances in June and July 2021

PicturePhoto @Ronald Knapp
De Nachtegaal en de Keizer, family show of the famous fairy tale with Karin Strobos and musicians from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra will be performed again from June 2021 on.
Check the Speellijst of the Appeltaartconcerten

Michael and Jabiz win prize with Denkend aan Holland!

PictureJabiz Hafizi and Michael Wilmering
Talented pianist Jabiz Hafizi and baritone Michael Wilmering performed my Denkend aan Holland on the famous poem by Hendrik Marsman, during a concert for the Dutch Embassy in Iran, November 2020. It was also an Online Competition Challenge and they won!
Denkend aan Holland was originally written for male choir The Gents and premiered September 2019.

The Nightingale and the Emperor world premiere Sept. 28th 2020

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The Appeltaartconcerten (Apple Pie Concerts), music for the elderly and people who cannot come to a concert hall with free coffee and apple pie in the break, invited me to create The Nightingale and the Emperor, my Covid - proof version of the famous fairytale The Chinese Nightingale by Andersen.
A 40 minute composition for a singer/narrator, viola, bassoon and piano. September 28th the premiere took place in Utrecht with a spectacular Karin Strobos as narrator/singer and musicians from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.
Watch the trailer here

'Morning Light' new work for women's choir a capella

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Zembla Music in Amsterdam launched and funded a wonderful initiative: women composers write for women's choir. I am one of them with Morning Light,  from October 2020 on available on www.DutchChoirMusicNOW.nl.

Slotkoor sings Denkend aan Holland July 25th in Utrecht

Project choir Slotkoor conducted by Fokko Oldenhuis performed their annual Summer Concert in the Nicolaikerk in Utrecht (NL) on July 25, 2020. With a very special rendition of my Denkend aan Holland now arranged for TTBB and a part of the songcycle Equinox (SSMA). More info here.

Piedra de Luz at Dutch Opera Concert June 28th

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Baritone Michael Wilmering wrote the very personal text for Steen van Licht/Piedra de Luz, a song I composed for his staged recital 'Grenze(n)loos' (2017). Now with Covid-19 measures loosening up a bit, Michael is performing at the Dutch Opera on Sunday the 28th of June.

New work for Music for Empty Spaces, Muziekgebouw May 28th

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Composer and organiser Heather Pinkham invited 11 composers to write for Music for Empty Spaces, a live/online concert. I composed No one is an island'for baritone and soundtrack on a text by author Xandra Knebel, who was inspired by John Donne and Samuel T.Coleridge. Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ will host, Radio 4 will broadcast (video and audio) on May 28, 2020 at 20.00h.

String quartet for Appeltaart Concerten

Stichting Appeltaartconcerten has commissioned me before, now they asked for a short (3') string quartet to be video recorded together with works from Schubert and Mozart, as an alternative to their wonderful Appeltaart Concertseries in elderly homes and hospitals.
I wrote Schelpen ('Shells').

Anne & Zef at Opera Spanga (NL) Summer 2020 CANCELLED

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'Anne & Zef' my opera for 12+ about Anne Frank who meets teenager Zef in the afterlife. will unfortunately not be performed this Summer. The original brilliant staging by Corina van Eijk will be back in the Netherlands in Season 21-22 in Den Haag with the Residentie Orkest.
Until then: watch the trailer and read more about the opera here.



New composition for women's choir: Equinox

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Author, journalist, poet Miek Smilde wrote a cycle of strong, emotional poems (in Dutch, translation in English coming up). I added the music for women's choir / ensemble and piano. Have a look at the preview
Now available at Lunam Publishing

Soprano solo with Dordrecht Opera Choir March 22, 2020 POSTPONED

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Last year I joined the Dordrecht Opera Choir for a wonderful concert filled with music by Verdi. This Summer I'll sing Verdi again (a.o. Pace, pace from La Forza), beautiful scenes from I Due Foscari and from Le Villi,  Puccini. With Martijn Sanders and Harald Quaaden, conducted by Peter Schlamilch.

Check later for the exact date!



Erdnüsschen in Düsseldorf, March 4 2020

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Versatile Sinfonia VivazzA from Cologne will perform 'Erdnüsschen, das Abenteur im Tierpark', (original title 'Apenootje' written for the Rotterdam Philharmonic) in Düsseldorf March 4, 2020.
Kids are participating in the show by singing along with the finale and by drawing a Phantasy-animal, inspired by the music and used in the performance.

More shows in Germany coming up!


Denkend aan Holland by The Gents finale of their tour on Feb.14, 2020

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The official 'Denkend aan Holland' tour of The Gents will come to an end in the Pieterskerk, Utrecht with my 'Denkend aan Holland' on one of the most famous Dutch poems: 'Herinnering aan Holland' by Hendrik Marsman.

Hong Kong: more Anne & Zef on Dec 8, 2019

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After 3 impressive shows in Tai Kwun, Hong Kong Island, now Anne & Zef is on the location where the whole idea of bringing the opera to Hong Kong started, Ping Che. A so called mural village in the North of Hong Kong, where a beautiful mix has grown between the artists in the village and the 'normal' villagers. Many paintings and sculptures can be found and now Sze Ka Yan, artictisc director of the Fragrant Village, adds music theatre projects to the list. Anne & Zef is one of the first.

Soprano solo with Amsterdam Opera Choir Dec 1st, 2019

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An opera concert with one of the best opera choirs in the Netherlands, always a pleasure!
Well-known and lesser known but also beautiful repertoire from a.o. Donizetti and Rossini as well as scenes from Cavalleria and Pagliacci conducted by Ago Verdonschot, who also sang the baritone solo parts.
The Dominicus Church in Amsterdam welcomed an enthousiastic audience on Sunday, Dec. 1st.

Tai Kwun, Hong Kong: Anne & Zef

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In Cultural Centre Tai Kwun, a former prison in Hong Kong, Anne & Zef was performed by Joyce Law and Lam Kwok Ho with Ensemble Traversée conducted by energetic Vicky Shin. Sublte staging by Wiki Lo. 3 shows with an emotional audience and 1 more show to go in the The Fragrant Village, Ping Che, in the North of Hong Kong, near the Chinese border. I was lucky to be present in Tai Kwun, with support from the FPK in the Netherlands.

Hong Kong: workshop, lecture and Anne & Zef

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New adventures in Asia:
Workshop, lecture and yes, Anne & Zef, performed by the Fragrant Village from Hongkong on November 23/24 at the Tai Kwun Centre of Cultural Heritage and December 8 in the Fragrant Village outside of Hongkong City.

'We komen eraan' new St Maarten song for Utrecht

Saturday November 9th will be the premiere of Utrecht's new Sint Maarten-song: 'We komen eraan'.
The City of Utrecht asked me to compose a new song on a text by Ruben van Gogh to be sung every year with the Sint Maarten Parade through the centre of Utrecht. A very special commission from the city where I was born. Join us at 18.30 on the Neude in Utrecht.

Lunam, ne quidem Lunam at Festival Vocallis

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Festival Vocallis asked renowned voice teacher Mya Besselink to program the opening night of this year's edition. Theme is 'Woman' and the concert has only female composers on its list.
I had the honour to be one of them.
Kim Savelsbergh and Abigail Richards will perform my 'Lunam, ne quidem Lunam', a work which I wrote for the International Vocal Competition in Den Bosch. October 26th 2019, 20.00h at the Conservatory Maastricht.

Good times with Rossini!

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Opera Choir VIva la Musica in Uden invited me to sing the soprano lead in a unique all-Rossini-programme.
Ago Verdonschot conducts and sings the baritone parts!
Scenes from a.o. Barbiere, Maometto II, Viaggio a Reims and Guillaume Tell.

Join us on Sunday October 20th in the Kruisherenkapel in Uden, 14.00h

Anne & Zef new production in HONGKONG has started!

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The Fragrant Village, a innovative theatre company in HONG KONG has started with the rehearsals for Anne & Zef, a new production with Vic Shin, conducting and Wiki Lo, directing.
They will use the English translation, but spoken dialogues will be in Cantonese! Very exciting!

Performances a.o. in the famous Tai Kwun Cultural Centre on November 23/24 and in the Fragrant Village December 8th 2019.

Fragrant Village HONG KONG will produce Anne & Zef November 2019

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Never knew that HONGKONG had villages...
The Fragrant Village is one of them and they have a wonderful music festival, led by energetic Sze Ka Yan. They will produce a brand new staging of Anne & Zef with cast and ensemble from HongKong, shows on November 23/24 2019 and December 8/9. Of course I will be there!

Commission by the City of Utrecht: a new Saint Maarten-song November 2019

PicturePainting of Sint Maarten
Patron of Utrecht, Saint Maarten, has his special day on November 11th.
The City of Utrecht asked me to compose a new song on a new text by Ruben van Gogh.
A traditional, to be sung by everybody on St Maartens Day. Premiere on November 9 in Utrecht.

The GENTS men's choir: commission for September 2019

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Superb Dutch male choir The Gents invited me to write music to one of the most famous Dutch poems: 'Herinnering aan Holland'
(1936)
by Hendrik Marsman. Premiere will take place September 15th 2019 at the Orgelpark in Amsterdam starting off their 'Denkend aan Holland' concert series in 2019-2020. Check their website or the flyer here for more info

International Operafestival Wiesbaden invites Anne & Zef May 2019

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Very honored to receive an invitation from the International Operafestival Wiesbaden! With the successful team from Amsterdam, Lilian Farahani as Anne Frank, Benjamin de Wilde as Zef in the staging by Corina van Eijk we'll perform on May 16th and 17th in the Wartburg in Wiesbaden. I will be conducting myself, looking forward! More info on the opera here.

'Erdnüsschen'(Apenootje) has its German premiere in Düsseldorf, May 10, 2019

PictureSinfonia VivazzA
'Erdnüsschen, das Abenteur im Tierpark', original title 'Apenootje' written for the Rotterdam Philharmonic, will see its premiere in a brandnew staging in Germany on May 10, 2019. Versatile Sinfonia VivazzA from Cologne will perform in Düsseldorf May 10, Cologne July 4 and Hamburg December 6, with more to come next year.

Soprano solo in Opera Concert March 17, 2019

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Time to stretch my vocal cords again in the Spring Concert of the Dordrecht Opera Choir .
Highlights from Verdi's I Lombardi and Macbeth. With Martijn Sanders, baritone and Harald Quaaden, tenor.

Wilhelmina Kerk, Dordrecht 14.15.

Get your tickets here!

Utrechts Requiem 2nd Edition, February 17 in Utrecht and on tour in Utrecht area

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Stories of citizens of Utrecht, put to music by 4 different composers uniting in one Requiem. A wonderful initiative that proved to be very successful in 2017. For the second edition I was invited to compose the Sanctus and the Offertorium.
The Requiem was performed by the Insomnio Ensemble conducted by Ulrich Pöhl, NEON Chamber choir, Childrens Choir Utrecht and with soloists Esther Kuiper and Michael Wilmering.
Listen to the radio broadcast from TivoliVredenburg here

Check thier website to find out when the chambermusic version will come in a city near you!

MORE NEWS........

Anne & Zef opera about Anne Frank - trailer. Recently performed in The Hague, Amare, April 2022.

Read MORE about Anne & Zef here

Listen to some of my works

Monique Krüs · Compositions by Monique Krüs
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