On Thursday evening, July 23, the Netherlands Youth Orchestra (JON) will perform for the first time at the Sint-Jan in Gouda, alongside the internationally renowned French star pianist Nathalia Milstein. The program includes Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, a piece widely regarded as the composer’s absolute masterpiece.
Last year, Nathalia was a finalist in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. There, she earned high praise from the jury for her exceptional performance of Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2. For the JON, the concert in Gouda marks the start of an extensive summer tour, which will conclude with a performance at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
Masterclass The JON can also be heard at the masterclass on Thursday afternoon at St. John’s. This event is also open to the public. In this masterclass, four talented
pianists, including Jure Jurakic from Gouda, will receive practical tips and helpful advice from Nathalia Milstein on playing with an orchestra. A masterclass with an entire orchestra present is quite special. Such masterclasses are rarely given.
Houtmansplantsoen
The piano festival opens at 9:30 a.m. in Houtmansplantsoen with a “Vroege Vogels” concert by Mieke Verduijn. The program features piano music by composers including Grieg, Liszt, and Haydn. At 11:15 a.m., there will be a fantastic performance for children by Beth & Flo.
Piano in the City!
The piano will also be played at other locations throughout the city. Amateur musicians can take part in a piano relay, which starts at the station piano and continues on a grand piano on wheels that travels through the city. For one day, Gouda will become a city of pianos.
Tickets Tickets for the closing concert, the masterclass, and the Houtmansplantsoen program are available on the website: www.pianofestivalgouda.nl. The exact start times and other relevant information are also listed there. Reduced admission rates apply for young people and students.