Info
The opera is set at the station of Eijsden (South Limburg), where on November 10, 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II arrived with his entourage in the hope of obtaining asylum in the neutral Netherlands, after his forced departure from Germany. His asylum application was granted, the Kaiser (mezzo-soprano Eva Kroon) camped in uncertainty at Eijsden station for 24 hours. In the opera during this period he gets into a conversation with the local station master (soprano Ginette Puylaert), who is in everything a complete opposite of the Kaiser, but towards the end of the opera, despite all the differences, there seems to be an unlikely friendship between the two. two men.
About the maker
Jan-Peter de Graaff (1992), born in Papendrecht and raised on the island of Terschelling, started composing at the age of 15. De Graaff’s oeuvre now spans more than 30 works for various line-ups, varying from solo works and chamber music (both instrumental and vocal) to works for symphony orchestra and music theater. In addition to his activities as a composer, De Graaff also works as a conductor, arranger and (independent) teacher of composition.
Recently Jan-Peter de Graaff won the International Rostrum of Composers Award, in the under 30 category, for the composition ‘Le café de nuit’.
Jan-Peter had previously won several prizes:
2008: Young Talent Prize, for the composition Waterballet
2011: Bronzen Oor, for the composition Modern Times
2016: Nicolaï Fund Award, for the most original final exam (All Rise!)
De Grens was made possible in part by the Province of Limburg, the Municipality of Maastricht, the Municipality of Heerlen, the Municipality of Sittard-Geleen-Born, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the Elisabeth Strouven Fund, Brand Bierbrouwerij and De Buren.
A production of the Leonore Foundation i.c.w. Opera Zuid and VIA ZUID.
