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Guus Janssen - Biographical data
GUUS JANSSEN (1951) studied piano and composition at the Sweelinck
Academy of Music in Amsterdam.
As a pianist and harpsichordist he performed in various groupings
with musicians from John Zorn to Gidon Kremer. Since the early 1980’s he has
led his own ensembles, ranging from pianotrios to 11 piece band and opera
orchestra.
As a soloist, playing mainly his own compositions and
improvisations, he has appeared at a lot of international festivals. In
addition he has performed with many of the leading Dutch ensembles and
orchestras.
Janssen’s achievements in the field of jazz and improvised music
have been widely acclaimed. It was for them that he received the Boy Edgar
Award, 1981.
His compositions, quite apart from the pieces written for the
Janssen ensembles, range from piano music and string quartet to symphonic work;
they have been widely played by, amongst others, the Kronos Quartet, the
Schönberg Ensemble, the Ebony Band and the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest.
In recognition of his standing and quality as a composer, Janssen
won the prestigious Matthijs Vermeulen Award, 1984.
So far Janssen has composed three opera’ s in collaboration with
Friso Haverkamp: ‘Faust’s Licht’ (1988/1993), ‘Noach’ (1994) and ‘Hier' (2000).
‘Noach’ has been staged again in Amsterdam by Dutch National Opera in January
1999.
In february 2008 his work 'Verstelwerk' had its wildly acclaimed New
York premiere in Zankell Hall performed by the Riverside Orchestra. During the same season Janssen was composer in residence with the Brabants Orkest. Celloplayers Larissa Groeneveld and Ernst Reijseger premiered there his doubleconcerto
Belvédère.
In 2008 his new pianosolo cd was released by GeestgrondenCd under
the title 'Out of frame'. It was received very enthusiastic by the dutch press.
Last july during their summertour the dutch Ricciotti Ensemble played his new opera 'Pinocchio in Love' with a libretto by Friso Haverkamp. They will bring the piece to Sicily durling their octobertour. Currently Janssen is working on a pianoconcerto for the ASKO Ensemble. It will be premiered on may 9 2011 with Janssen as soloist in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
Biografie in het Nederlands
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