Prins Claus Concert 2025 with Bremen

Every two years, students from the classical department of the Prince Claus Conservatoire and University of the Arts (HFK) Bremen collaborate to form the "Hanze Symphony Orchestra". They played works by Gustav Mahler and Henri Duparc, conducted by Marco Comin. Clarisse Planchais and Yuxiang Liu were the solists.

National and international collaboration 

The Northern Netherlands Alliance (SNN) helps sponsor the Prince Claus Concert. Thanks to this connection via the SNN, we contribute to the development and profiling of the Northern Netherlands. 

Besides regional collaboration, we value international cooperation. The Prince Claus Conservatoire from Groningen and the University of the Arts from Bremen have been working together for decades. This has created a strong connection between the Northern Netherlands and Northern Germany. 

The orchestra was formed by students from Groningen and Bremen. After individual studies of the scores and sectional rehearsals, our students travelled to Bremen to spend the final week before the concert rehearsing with the complete symphony orchestra. “That's when the best part begins for me. It was very special to see how everything comes together after a long time of rehearsing alone,” says viola player Pedro. 

The concert was performed in Die Glocke (Bremen), De Harmonie (Leeuwarden) and SPOT/De Oosterpoort (Groningen).

Mahler and Duparc 

The young musicians presented a broad palette of musical emotions. They brought Romantic feelings to the audience with Mahler and Duparc. Both composers put melancholy in their music. Yet there are major differences between Mahler and Duparc. "That variation during the concert is interesting. Mahler's work is very grand, while Duparc's pieces are more introverted," says double bassist Rarer. 

Mahler's First Symphony, a monumental work, took the audience from deep peace to an overwhelming finale full of heroism. In this masterpiece, Mahler combines elements of folk music, natural sounds and a grand symphonic palette, which makes this piece one of his most beloved symphonies. "For me, it is the first time that I played Mahler in an orchestra. That is really a dream come true." 

In addition, five songs by Henri Duparc were performed, in which the voice as a solo instrument is interwoven with rich orchestral colors. “For the soloists it is of course wonderful repetoire,” concludes viola player Pedro.