Nordic Faust: Peer Gynt by Ibsen & Grieg

Peer Gynt by the Norwegian Edvard Grieg: regular guest conductor Stéphane Denève conducts the theatrical music complete, with text and direction by The Banquet.

Theatrical music for Henrik Ibsen
Grieg's Peer Gynt is known for the two orchestral suites with highlights from this composition, which were composed by the composer himself. Often these are performed somewhat sweetly. But the complete theater music this Norwegian wrote, commissioned by compatriot and playwright Henrik Ibsen, has no fewer than 26 numbers, with soloists and chorus. In it, it becomes clear how characteristic, contrasting and theatrical this music actually is.

Theatrical version in the Saturday Matinee
Although Grieg wrote primarily for piano, this larger musical form was right up his alley, although instead of separate songs he might have preferred to have composed an opera. Ibsen's epic play Peer Gynt (pronounced Pèr Guunt) might best be described as the Scandinavian Faust. We follow the grandiloquent and arrogant protagonist on his journey through life, in which he also visits Morocco and Egypt, and finally comes to a certain insight about himself. To emphasize the theatrical power of this music, the Matinee will combine the musical performance with text and direction by the Flemish company Het Banket and actor Filip Jordens.