Syttende Mai

The Norwegian Seafarers’ Church in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Isolde Troost plays Liszt’s Consolation no. 6.

On 17th May, mezzo-soprano Emma Brown and pianist Isolde Troost gave a recital at the Norwegian Seafarers’ Church in Rotterdam (Sjømannskirken) as part of the celebrations of Norway’s National Day. Emma and Isolde presented their programme of Grieg and Liszt. Since Isolde took her Master’s in Oslo, she was able to introduce the programme in Norwegian to the mostly Bokmål-speaking public.

“Syttende Mai” (17th May) is the anniversary of the signing of the 1814 Norwegian Constitution which granted Norway independence from Denmark after a four-hundred year union. Norway did not gain her full independence until 1905. Syttende Mai has also become associated with remembrance, since Norway was liberated on 8th May 1945. Therefore, as well as the children’s parades, flag-flying, and music, there are also remembrance ceremonies and in Oslo a salute is fired.

Emma and Isolde were honoured to participate in the Syttende Mai celebrations in the Netherlands and meet the warm Norwegian and international community at the seafarers church.

2017-05-20T16:38:54+02:00May 17th, 2017|

The reunion of the Royal Guards Regiment of Fusiliers ‘Princess Irene.’

Retired Major-General Rudi Hemmes fought in Normandy on D-day and marched with his brigade over Pegasus Bridge.

HRH Prince Jaime Bernardo of Bourbon-Parma, Count of Bardi (left) and Retired Major-General Rudi Hemmes (middle).

On Friday, 12th May, Emma sang as a guest soloist at the reunion of the Dutch Royal Guards Regiment of Fusiliers ‘Princess Irene.’

The Princess Irene Brigade participated in D-day in 1944 and in the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945.

On 12th May, current members and veterans were invited to the Generaal-Majoor De Ruyter van Steveninck Barracks in Oirschot, the Netherlands for a reunion. HRH Prince Jaime Bernardo of Bourbon-Parma, Count of Bardi, the son of Princess Irene was present.

2017-07-09T10:57:01+02:00May 15th, 2017|

Remembrance of the Dead in the Netherlands (Doodherdenking)

Emma and the orchestra during the Dutch Remembrance Ceremony in Leiden.

In the Netherlands, ceremonies of remembrance are held on 4th May: the anniversary of the day before the Netherlands was liberated from the Second World War Nazi occupation. Ceremonies take place throughout the country and wreaths are laid at monuments. The Dutch have a “taptoe signal,” used in the same way as the British and Commonwealth’s “Last Post,” which is played before silence is observed during remembrance ceremonies. Two minutes silence is observed across the country at eight o’clock in the evening.

This year, Emma sang for the Remembrance Ceremony in Leiden. The Mayors of Leiden, Oegstgeest, and Oxford, Leiden’s twin city in the United Kingdom, attended the ceremony and laid wreaths. Retired General Arie van der Vlis gave a thought-provoking speech about Dutch military engagements since the Second World War. Also present was an elderly veteran who fought at the bridge and the airfield near the monument. Fifty-one Dutch soliders perished there in 1940.

2017-05-06T12:23:01+02:00May 6th, 2017|

Donner Books

On Saturday, 29th April, mezzo-soprano Emma Brown and pianist Isolde Troost gave a recital of Grieg’s Haugtussa and Liszt’s Consolations in the unusual setting of a bookshop. Donner Bookshop in Rotterdam, est. 1912, is one of the largest bookshops in the Netherlands. They regularly have readings, lectures, and presentations.

Emma and Isolde first performed this programme in the Hooglandse Kerk last March. They have already been invited to give further performances in South Holland.

2017-05-20T16:39:23+02:00May 1st, 2017|
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