Highlights
September 2025
The first month of our new season is full of musical highlights! We have selected special concerts in different genres.
Agenda
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Izran
Imetlaa, Lina Charif + Milouda HoceimiaSong and spoken word by three generations of women
Sun 28 Sep 2025Experience Izran, an age-old Moroccan tradition from the Rif, where stories are passed down through song and poetry. Together with the troubadours of Imetlaa, Lina Charif brings an ode to Mimount ’N Serwan, a revered and reviled icon of the Rifian folk song from the 1970s. Word artist Nicole Kaandorp introduces the Izran with funny stories, anecdotes, poetry, and explanations about the songs.
After this ode, Milouda Al Hoceimia will take the stage. She is a prominent singer from the generation that came after Mimount ’N Serwan. The concert will conclude with a second performance by Lina Charif, who represents the young generation, performing contemporary Izran songs.
Program
Music written by Mimount ’N Serwan
Credits
Lina Charif vocals, percussion
Nicole Kaandorp poetry, storytelling
Khadija Al Mourabit text
Milouda Al Hoceimia vocals, percussion
Hicham Riffi piano
Mohamed Allati vocals, guitarImetlaa:
Kamal Hors ud
Mostapha Ahrouch vocals, percussion
Hatim Khelifi percussion -
Shostakovich and Mjaskovski
Alexander Warenberg, Maria Warenberg + Jérémie MoreauPrize winners perform Russian and French musicMjaskovski, Poulenc, Rachmaninov, Tsjaikovski, Massenet, Debussy, Viardot
Wed 24 Sep 2025A young trio of prize winners presents a program with exclusively Russian and French music. Alexander Warenberg won the first prize and the audience prize at the National Cello Competition. His sister Maria garnered significant acclaim as a laureate of the esteemed Queen Elisabeth Competition of 2023. And in 2018, pianist Jérémie Moreaux, who previously performed with his cellist brother Edgar at the Cello Biennale, won the Concours national de piano ‘les Virtuoses du Cœur’, the French piano equivalent of the National Cello Competition.
Mjaskovsky wrote his Second cello sonata for the legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who was highly regarded by many famous composers of his era. Shostakovich wrote his cello sonata shortly before falling out of favour with the Soviet leadership and dedicated it to his good friend Viktor Kubatsky, who also premiered the work. The songs of Viardot and Massenet offer a unique and beautiful blend of cello and voice.
The originally announced program of this concert has changed slightly. Instead of Poulenc's Cello Sonata, Alexander Warenberg and Jérémie Moreau will perform Shostakovich's Cello Sonata.
Programme booklet (Dutch)Program
Nikolaj Mjaskovski Cello Sonata No. 2 Op. 81
Sergei Rachmaninov Élégie Op. 3 No. 1 (arr. for cello and piano)
Dmitri Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor, Op. 40
And songs by Johannes Brahms, Sergej Rachmaninov, Pjotr Tsjaikovski, Pauline Viardot, Claude Debussy and Francis PoulencCredits
Alexander Warenberg cello
Maria Warenberg soprano
Jérémie Moreau piano -
Muziekgebouw 20 years!
Mini festival with Quatuor Danel, Cappella Amsterdam and many othersPerformances throughout the buildingVasks, Weinberg e.a.
Sat 20 Sep 2025The Muziekgebouw celebrates its 20th anniversary: a milestone! On Saturday 20 September, we celebrate with festive concerts throughout the building, in front of and behind the scenes.
In a small group, you will be guided past several 15-minute mini-concerts, spread across unique locations: the Grote and Kleine Zaal, but also the Loading Dock and the rehearsal studios backstage. Be surprised by the various artists, all musicians with whom the Muziekgebouw feels closely associated.
After this musical exploration, a festive finale will follow in the Grote Zaal with performances by the top Dutch ensembles Cappella Amsterdam with members of the string orchestra Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the renowned string quartet Quatuor Danel.
This same programme will also be played earlier on this day at 14:30.
Jubilee season 2025-2026
For the entire season, we have selected twenty concerts that represent a sample of what the Muziekgebouw stands for: music for everyone with a curious outlook on life. The concerts can be recognised by the label 20 years of the Muziekgebouw. With regular partners, iconic composers, welcome guests and young heroes.
This concert will be recorded to be broadcast later by NTR on NPO Klassiek
Credits
Performances throughout the building:
Akim Moiseenkov electronics
Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest
Katharine Dain soprano, Diamanda Dramm violin
Quirine Viersen cello
Ralph van Raat pianoMain Hall performance:
Quatuor Danel
Cappella Amsterdam
Candida Thompson violin
Tim Posner cello -
Muziekgebouw 20 years!
Mini festival with Quatuor Danel, Cappella Amsterdam and many othersPerformances throughout the buildingVasks, Weinberg e.a.
Sat 20 Sep 2025The Muziekgebouw celebrates its 20th anniversary: a milestone! On Saturday 20 September, we celebrate with festive concerts throughout the building, in front of and behind the scenes.
In a small group, you will be guided past several 15-minute mini-concerts, spread across unique locations: the Grote and Kleine Zaal, but also the Loading Dock and the rehearsal studios backstage. Be surprised by the various artists, all musicians with whom the Muziekgebouw feels closely associated.
After this musical exploration, a festive finale will follow in the Grote Zaal with performances by the top Dutch ensembles Cappella Amsterdam, string orchestra Amsterdam Sinfonietta represented by artistic director and violinist Candida Thompson & principal cellist Tim Posner, and the renowned string quartet Quatuor Danel.
This programme will be repeated at 19:30 later in the day.
Jubilee season 2025-2026
For the entire season, we have selected twenty concerts that represent a sample of what the Muziekgebouw stands for: music for everyone with a curious outlook on life. The concerts can be recognised by the label 20 years of the Muziekgebouw. With regular partners, iconic composers, welcome guests and young heroes.This concert will be recorded to be broadcast later by NTR on NPO Klassiek
Credits
Performances throughout the building:
Akim Moiseenkov electronics
Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest
Katharine Dain soprano, Diamanda Dramm violin
Quirine Viersen cello
Shane van Neerden pianoMain Hall performance:
Quatuor Danel
Cappella Amsterdam
Candida Thompson violin
Tim Posner cello -
Birdsongs from Kĩrĩnyaga
Cello Octet + Nyokabi KariũkiAn evocative symbiosis of human voice, cello and birdsongKariũki
Fri 19 Sep 2025Nyokabi Kariũki is a name that is buzzing around in the contemporary music circuit; the Cello Octet has jumped at the chance to work with her. The Kenyan-born sound explorer has written a composition for the octet, interweaving her voice with field recordings of East African sunbirds. This bird species has sung the same song for thousands of years, creating a powerful ancestral tie.
Sunbirds can be found at Mount Kenya, at the birthplace of Nyokabi’s father. For Nyokabi, the enduring nature of the birdsong has profound implications for our understanding of the concept of ‘origin’. Her forefathers, too, preserved knowledge through song and music, alongside language and stories, until colonial structures disrupted these living forms of communication.
Program
20:30 | Grote Zaal
Nyokabi Kariũki Birdsong from Kĩrĩnyaga21:45 - 23:30 | Entreehal
DJ set by Karim SeminCredits
Nyokabi Kariũki composition, voice
Cello Octet Amsterdam -
Nightwater: installation
Thanasis DeligiannisWander through the installation at your own pace
Sun 14 Sep 2025What happens when you teleport Greek village life into an Amsterdam concert hall? This is what Nightwater explores, the new multidisciplinary production composer and director Thanasis Deligiannis created exclusively for the Muziekgebouw. With a mix of field recordings, megaphones, diverse speakers, video projections, plastic garden chairs and a full-fledged industrial irrigation machine, Deligiannis and his team are transforming the building into a dazzling installation.
On Sunday September 14, wander through the installation on your own and see what remains after the party the night before. As you wander through the building, you will encounter videos, fascinating soundscapes and recorded sounds at various points. Be guided by the sounds and images and create your own route, at your own pace.
Venice Biennale
Nightwater builds on the acclaimed work originally created for the Greek pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2024. Inspired by the traditional village festival (‘panigri’ in Greek), this musical interpretation explores the relationship between city and countryside. Deligiannis, who hails from a family of musicians, dancers and farmers, takes his audience on a dreamlike journey that begins in the Entreehal and ends in the unknown.Practical information
Your adventure through the building
On Sunday 14 September, you are welcome to wander through the installation and the building anywhere between 11:00 and 15:00. You can choose when to start, and you can stay as long as you like. Visit the Loading Dock, backstage area, Grote Zaal, Entrance Hall, Foyerdecks, the Atrium and Kleine Zaal. And discover new things in all places. No two visitors will have the same experience! On arrival, report to the Entrance Hall, from where you will be taken to the starting point of your exploration.
Nightwater is a co-production of the Muziekgebouw Productiehuis and the I/O Foundation,and is presented with the support of Het Cultuurfonds, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, the Greek Embassy in the Netherlands, Onassis Stegi - Touring Program, HVA International, Aegean Airlines and The Greek House in Rotterdam.
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Program
Thanasis Deligiannis Nightwater (only the installation, not music)
Credits
Thanasis Deligiannis concept, direction, composition, sound design, cinematography
Yannis Michalopoulos concept, dramaturgy, research
Kostas Chaikalis sound design and engineering
Elia Kalogianni artistic collaboration - cinematography and installation
Yorgos Kyvernitis cinematography
Natasa Tsakiridou vocals
Lina Alatzidou vocals
Alexandros Papageorgopoulos clarinet -
Nightwater: Deena Abdelwahed + Zohar
The Rest is NoiseA boundless electronic trip
Sat 13 Sep 2025For Deena Abdelwahed, the world of Arab dance music knows no boundaries. She shares this ethos with Zohar, who effortlessly blurs the lines between club and avant-garde. They join forces for a late-night performance filled with art and electronic experimentation. Expect Abdelwahed’s signature electro-infused take on North African music. Meanwhile, Zohar supercharges the dancefloor with weighty bass and throbbing beats.
Deeply embedded in the alternative music scenes of France and her native Tunisia, DJ/producer Deena Abdelwahed fuses electronic dance music with explorations of her Arab identity. Meanwhile, DJ Zohar from Amsterdam brings years of experience to the decks with her eclectic and intuitive sets that forge surprising links between diverse musical styles.
Access to Nightwater
Your ticket for this concert also gives you access to Nightwater. Be sure to take the time to walk through the Muziekgebouw and discover this installation by Thanasis Deligiannis.
Nightwater transforms the building into a virbant environment full of videos, fascinating soundscapes and recorded sounds. Where industrial, rural, and urban elements converge and geographical boundaries are intentionally blurred. With their performance, Deena Abdelwahed and Zohar turn the installation into an experience where the dividing lines between installation art, club culture, and soundscapes disappear in The Rest is Noise.
Nightwater is a co-production of the Muziekgebouw Productiehuis and the I/O Foundation, and is presented with the support of Het Cultuurfonds, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, the Greek Embassy in the Netherlands, Onassis Stegi - Touring Program, HVA International, Aegean Airlines and The Greek House in Rotterdam.
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Program
22.00 uur / Kleine Zaal
Zohar (dj)00.00 uur / Kleine Zaal
Deena Abdelwahed (dj)Credits
Deena Abdelwahed dj
Zohar dj -
Nightwater: performance installation
Thanasis Deligiannis + Ensemble KlangA dazzling performance installation throughout the buildingDeligiannis
Fri 12 Sep 2025-Sat 13 Sep 2025What happens when you teleport a full-fledged industrial irrigation machine from a Greek village into an Amsterdam concert hall? This is what Nightwater explores, the new interdisciplinary production composer and director Thanasis Deligiannis created exclusively for the Muziekgebouw. With a mix of field recordings, megaphones, diverse speakers, video projections, plastic garden chairs , Deligiannis and his team are transforming the building into a dazzling installation. Inside, a vibrant realm of live music and electronics emerges, promising an unforgettable experience for all who visit.
Throughout your journey in the building, live music will greet you in various locations. The performers will sometimes play together, sometimes individually. The ambiance is further enriched by videos, fascinating soundscapes and recorded sounds. Embrace the unexpected! The 'who, what, where and when' of the performances will remain a surprise. Let your ears and eyes be your compass as you wander through the event at your own pace.Venice Biennale
Nightwater builds on the acclaimed work originally created for the Greek pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2024. Inspired by the traditional village festival (‘panigri’ in Greek), this musical interpretation explores the relationship between city and countryside. Deligiannis, who hails from a family of musicians, dancers and farmers, takes his audience on a dreamlike journey that begins in the Entreehal and ends in the unknown.Practical information
Your adventure through the building
From the moment you step inside, you are free to stay as long as you like and chart your own unique course. Venture through the Loading Dock, backstage, the Grote Zaal, the Entreehal, the Foyer Decks, The Atrium and the Kleine Zaal. Wander freely, revisit spaces and uncover something new each time. No two visitors will have the same experience!Tickets and start times 12 and 13 September
On Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September, there are 10 start times you can choose from. With just 50 spots available per start time, these will fill up fast! Simply check in at the Entreehal when you arrive, and you will be taken to the starting point of your musical adventure.Starting times
Fri 12 Sep: 19.30 / 20.00 / 20.30 / 21.00 / 21.30 / 22.00
Sat 13 Sep: 19.30 / 20.00 / 20.30 / 21.00Finish times
Fri 12 Sep: 23.30
Sat 13 Sep: 22:00 (performance) / 00:00 (installation)
Combination discount
Along with your time slot, buy a ticket for the concert by Deena Abdelwahed + Zohar on (Sat Sep 13 at 10pm) at 50% discount!
Nightwater is a co-production of the Muziekgebouw Productiehuis and the I/O Foundation (Frank van der Weij project manager, Rania Mavriki production manager, Yan Kelleghan, Ivet Serra, Dimitra Sofroniou interns), and is presented with the support of Het Cultuurfonds, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, the Greek Embassy in the Netherlands, Onassis Stegi - Touring Program, HVA International, Aegean Airlines and The Greek House in Rotterdam.
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Program
Thanasis Deligiannis Nightwater
Credits
Thanasis Deligiannis concept, direction, composition, sound design, cinematography
Yannis Michalopoulos concept, dramaturgy, research
Kostas Chaikalis sound design and engineering
Elia Kalogianni artistic collaboration - cinematography and installation
Yorgos Kyvernitis cinematographyEnsemble Klang:
Saskia Lankhoorn keyboard
Peter Harden electric guitar/bass
Joey Marijs percussion
Natasa Tsakiridou vocals
Lina Alatzidou vocals
Alexandros Papageorgopoulos clarinet -
Boccherini and contemporaries
Nicolas Altstaedt + ArcangeloOne of the greatest cellists of our timeBoccherini, CPE Bach
Sat 6 Sep 2025The Muziekgebouw and the Cello Biennale are bringing one of the greatest and most versatile cellists of our time to Amsterdam: Nicolas Altstaedt. Whether he is playing Bach’s cello suites or performing with lutenist Thomas Dunford and harpsichordist Jonathan Cohen. Tonight, Altstaedt enters into a musical dialogue with Cohen’s ensemble Arcangelo.
It’s not a first. With Arcangelo, Altstaedt previously recorded the complete cello concertos by Boccherini and Carl Philipp Emanuel, Bach’s son. These 18th-century composers were already attuned to the cello’s remarkable expressive range. Arcangelo’s energetic performance of Haydn’s Trauer-Symphony will conclude the evening. Haydn expressed his wish for the Adagio of that symphony to be performed at his funeral. However, his death during Napoleon’s invasion of Austria likely prevented this from occurring.
Programme booklet (Dutch)
Program
Luigi Boccherini Symphony No. 4 in D mimor ‘La Casa del Diavolo’
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Cello Concerto in A minor
Luigi Boccherini Cello Concerto in C G.481
Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 44 ‘Trauer’Credits
Nicolas Altstaedt cello
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen conductor
