Dutch ‘speciality’ record label TRPTK released the SACD “Eclipse – Vol. 2 – Hans Henkemans,” a rediscovery of this composer.
Mattias Spee (1997) studied with David Kuyken and Ralph van Raat, among others. He won several prizes: at the Prinses Christina Concours, the Steinway Piano Competition and the VriendenCultuurPrijs. Spee has a distinct preference for lesser-known repertoire and is a true “musical treasure hunter”. He gained fame, among other things, with his album published on TRPTK in 2021, dedicated to the Austrian Joseph Wölfl (1773-1812), a contemporary and rival of Beethoven (TTK 0073). This was the first volume in his “Eclipse” series featuring previously undiscovered gems from the piano repertoire.
Henkemans
Now, under the aegis of record label TRPTK, the second volume in this series appeared, featuring pieces by Dutch composer and pianist Hans Henkemans (1913-1995). “I like music with a strong character and in which a story is told,” says Spee. “The special thing is that I grew up with the music of Debussy and Ravel and Henkemans’ compositions fit in with that. His oeuvre is coming more and more into focus partly because of the activities of the Hans Henkemans Foundation founded by Ed Spanjaard.”
Varied in scope
The album is varied in scope, with several solo pieces and a “Concerto for piano and strings. “I think it’s a special piece because it jumps rather off the cuff and there’s a lot of energy in it. As a performer you really have to look for the coherence and bring your personal interpretation.” Together with the philharmonie zuidnederland conducted by Ed Spanjaard, Spee succeeded in bringing the composition back to life decades later.
Highlight
A highlight is the “Sonata for piano” with which the album closes. “A difficult and complex piece, in which you keep discovering new aspects,” Spee says. “I really find it a challenge, not only for the performer but also for the listener.” Brilliant is the “Sonatina for piano” with which the production begins. Somber and subdued is the “Andante con moto,” which Henkemans composed on the eve of World War II. To connect the various pieces, Spee, as on his previous release, used self-composed intermezzi.
“Henkemans’ music really grabs me. It’s a kind of raw emotion that gets to you,” Spee notes in conclusion. “A world opens up to you when you’re curious about unfamiliar music. I hope people enjoy it and get carried away in this adventure,” Spee said.
Presentation: May 20, Amstelkerk, Amstelveld 10, Amsterdam. Starts at 8 p.m.