Yesterday evening, the Holland Festival was officially opened at Royal Theatre Carré in the presence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima with the concert City of Floating Sounds by composer Huang Ruo.
For the audience, the concert began with a musical walk from various locations across the city. Through a specially developed app, each participant heard one instrument from Huang Ruo’s orchestral composition on their phone. At Carré, the complete work was performed live by the Flanders Symphony Orchestra. Laurie Anderson presented a short performance in her iconic drum suit that allowed her to use her body as a percussion instrument.
In her opening speech, Festival Director Emily Ansenk reflected on the importance of listening in an increasingly noisy world. 'This is what we hope to offer through this festival: a shared space of attention. A place where listening becomes an act. Where empathy is practised. And where transformation becomes possible.'