DOMSELAER ARTISTS
ELISABETH HETHERINGTON | SOPRANO
Since moving from Canada to the Netherlands, award-winning soprano Elisabeth Hetherington has quickly established herself as a stand out up-and-coming performer and interpreter of early, contemporary and modern repertoire throughout Europe. Elisabeth has been praised for her “… fearless and powerful personality, as well as her flawless technology and breathtaking presentation” (NRC, 2020) and “virtuosic grace, sophisticated dynamics and subtle colours… beautifully lyrical, somewhat fragile timbre...” (Place de l’Opera Magazine, 2020). Managing to effortlessly bridge the gap between early and contemporary music, Elisabeth has premiered and recorded numerous works throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and Estonia. Her ability to combine music old and new continues to garner acclaim.
Elisabeth is an especially passionate advocate for multidisciplinary performance. With modern dance company LeineRoebana, she has developed SOLAS. Drawing on her background as a dancer, SOLAS is a fusion of music and poetry, as well as song and dance in which she demonstrates how well movement and singing live together in her. Elisabeth has created operatic roles with companies such as Holland Opera (King Lear 2019, De Viegende Hollander 2020, Divorce of Figaro 2022), Holland Baroque (Belinda in Dido and Aeneas), and Opera Zuid (Bonsai Gardens 2020).
Elisabeth founded the ensemble Duo Serenissima for whom she has had the opportunity to create programs that have been performed in many festivals and concert series around the world.
Elisabeth’s ability to program daring and demanding recitals and concerts for world renowned ensembles and festivals has garnered her the praise of “showing how a great future in music sounds” (NRC, 2021).
NIKOLA MEEUWSEN | PIANIST
“Nikola Meeuwsen is characterized by his crystal clear musical thinking; in his playing, silence and movement coincide brilliantly. His train of thought is pure poetry. He seems to stop time and has a phenomenal sense of timing. With his playing he gives a glimpse into his soul."
Thus the jury motivation when winning the prestigious Grachtenfestival Prize 2022.
Nikola Meeuwsen (2002) is one of the most notable young pianists in the Netherlands. He was awarded the Concertgebouw Young Talent Award 2019, after winning in 2014 the Royal Concertgebouw Competition, and in 2012 the Steinway Competition.
Dutch broadcaster Avrotros presented his debut CD with works by Schumann, Scriabin, Brahms and Bach.
Nikola Meeuwsen studies with Marlies van Gent, with Enrico Pace at the prestigious Accademia Pianistica di Imola, and at the Queen Elisabeth Chapel in Brussels with Frank Braley and Avedis Kouyoumdjian.
Photo: Melle Meivogel
FRANS-AERT BURGHGRAEF | CONDUCTOR
Conductor
Frans-Aert Burghgraef, studied in Groningen and Utrecht, attended masterclasses with Bernard Haitink, Edo de Waart, and Dima Slobodeniouk. He conducts the major orchestras in The Netherlands. Furthermore he conducts throughout Europe, amongst others Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, and Luzerner Sinfonie Orchester. Frans-Aert won the international conducting competition in Taipei, with Jorma Panula as jury chair. He was awarded with the Anton Kersjes Conducting Grant.
MARIA DU TOIT | CLARINETTIST
Having been the solo principal clarinettist of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (South Africa) for 13 years, Maria currently lives in the Netherlands where she is pursuing a solo and chamber music career. She has won numerous competitions, awards and prizes both in her home country and abroad - among which, first prize in the international clarinet competition ’Jeunesses Musicales’ in Bucharest. Maria performs across Europe, the USA and South Africa. She has released three solo albums of which one was nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA). She is also one of only a handful of clarinet players worldwide to have recorded the complete clarinet concerto's by Louis Spohr.