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Alba Rosa Viva! Festival 2016

The second festival took place on October 2, 2016, also in the Leeuwenbergh in Utrecht. This time special attention was paid to the Dutch female composer Elisabeth Kuyper. She studied in Berlin with Max Bruch and founded and conducted women’s orchestras in both Germany and the United States. Her piano trio as well as her sonata for violin and her songs were performed. A lecture was given about her life and music.

Pieces by Max Bruch and contemporary composers such as Willem Jeths, Jonathan Dove and Mathilde Wantenaar (winner of the 2014 composition prize) completed the program. The musicians were Rosanne Philippens (violin), Nino Gvetadze (piano), Natalia Gabunia (violin), Ella van Poucke (cello), Melvyn Tan (piano), Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer (clarinet), Karin Strobos (mezzo-soprano), Martijn Cornet (baritone), Reinild Mees (piano) and the young pianist Laurens de Man.

The Alba Rosa Viëtor Composition Prize was awarded to Jack Frerer for his composition “Last In, First Out” for clarinet, violin and piano, performed by Jelmer de Moed, Emma Rhebergen and Valentina Tóth.