VISIONARY HARPIST RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS DUTCH MUSIC PRIZE

"Tomorrow Eyes is the best thing I have ever created."

The adventurous Dutch harpist and storyteller Remy van Kesteren (26) is broadening his musical horizons with his album Tomorrow Eyes, which was released on Friday 8 January 2016. This is a change of direction for the highly talented harpist, in which he focuses on writing his own music. It's a new chapter in the career of an outstanding harpist, who is always on the lookout for new challenges. The release of Tomorrow Eyes is the realisation of a life-long dream. Remy van Kesteren explains: "Tomorrow Eyes is an important step in examining my own musical world. I wrote most of the pieces on this album myself. Every piece expresses a story, a challenge, but above all something very personal. For the first time in my career, it's me, as an artist, who's at the heart of it, instead of the composer. That is exciting, but it is also confrontational at the same time. The tracks cross the boundaries between genres and forms, creating a new musical world. My musical world. I invited a number of friends who are musicians to join me on my adventure, such as  Michael Prins (vocals), Leticia Moreno (violin), Ties Mellema (sax), Joost Kroon (drums) and Eric Vloeimans (trumpet). It's the most exciting and the best thing I've ever created."  

 

Tomorrow Eyes will be performed live for the first time at Paradiso Amsterdam on Wednesday 1 June 2016. On this occasion, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science will present Remy van Kesteren with the prestigious Dutch Music Prize. Tickets for this concert went on sale in early 2016, but seated tickets are already sold out. Only standing tickets are still avaible. An extensive Tomorrow Eyes tour will follow in autumn this year. As one of today's most multifaceted musicians, Remy performs all over the world. He has collaborated with many interesting artists, such as Hans van Manen, one of the most prestigious Dutch choreographers, and the National Ballet, and performed in front of 500,000 people at the Night of the Proms (2012).

 


Jaap van Zweden, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Conductor of the Year 2012 :
“Remy is both musically, as well as technically, an exceptional musician.”

When one thinks of a harpist, presumably images of delicately strumming nymphs with long blonde hair come to mind. But now there is Remy van Kesteren. He has won the US International Harp Competition 2013, the largest harp competition in the world, has reached 500,000 visitors during the Night of the Proms and has taken on numerous ambitious projects, including a collaboration with the famous ballet choreographer, Hans van Manen, in 2014. At the age of five, Remy was lured off the swing by a mysterious sound from an open window – the sound of the harp. Aged ten, he entered the Conservatory of Utrecht and before he had finished his studies with the highest distinction, he could already look back on two successful editions of his own Dutch Harp Festival. Remy attributes his rapidly developing career to his former teacher, Erika Waardenburg, the purveyor of the Dutch harp scene. He does not feel bound to ‘prevailing ideas’ about the harp.
 
For further information please visit: www.remyvankesteren.com.