Cooperation
Bennewitz Quartet & Harry-Imre DijkstraThe aims of the Bennewitz Quartet & Harry-Imre Dijkstra are diverse: communication, both by playing beautiful music and by having direct contact with the audience (spoken explanations or more theatrical introductions about the pieces for example) is essential for them. Also exploring lesser known pieces, even in other combinations than quartet or quintet, is an important feature.
In January 2004 the Bennewitz Quartet & Harry-Imre Dijkstra won the National Presentation of Chamber Music-contest in Amsterdam.
Within four seasons the ensemble already played over a hundred concerts in many of Holland's most well-known concert venues, such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, The Vredenburg Music Centre in Utrecht and the Rotterdam Doelen, besides performing in Germany, Austria, for the European Commission in Brussels and for Czech classical radio.
The Dutch clarinettist Harry-Imre Dijkstra plays, composes, arranges, writes, likes to give spoken introductions and is an advocate of lesser known and East European music.
He studied the clarinet at the Amsterdam University of the Arts, where he obtained diplomas as a teacher and a soloist. During his final studies he taught at the same institute.
With support from the Amsterdam Prins Bernhard Fond he continued his studies with Valery Bezrutshenko in St. Petersburg. He also participated in international mastercourses with Michel Lethiec and Charles Neidich and had valuable lessons in chamber music during courses with Kyoko Hashimoto and members of renowned ensembles like the Fine Arts Quartet, the Panocha Quartet and the Orpheus Quartet.
With support from the Amsterdam Prins Bernhard Fond he continued his studies with Valery Bezrutshenko in St. Petersburg. He also participated in international mastercourses with Michel Lethiec and Charles Neidich and had valuable lessons in chamber music during courses with Kyoko Hashimoto and members of renowned ensembles like the Fine Arts Quartet, the Panocha Quartet and the Orpheus Quartet. Although he performed as a soloist with orchestra and made several European tours with youth orchestras, he now mainly focuses on chamber music. With the D.D.Duo (violin and clarinet) and the Ensemble Contrasts (violin, clarinet and piano) he played through whole Europe, made radio and television recordings and won prizes at international competitions. Besides he premiered many pieces in concert and for radio.
With the Prague Bennewitz Quartet he started an intensive collaboration in 2003, which resulted till now in more than 150 concerts in Europe and winning the Amsterdam Presentation Concerts Competition.
As a composer Harry-Imre Dijkstra wrote mostly for personal use but also for film, theatre and ballet. His trio “Elegy & Scherzo” was performed more than 15 times in Europe and was one of the elected pieces for the Dutch Bosmans Competition Prize in 2003.
Besides he is a moderator for Dutch broadcasting corporation “De Concertzender” and produced 450 programs on Czech 20th century music.
Antonin Rejcha: Clarinet Quintet op.89
Alexander Glazunov: Réverie Orientale
Wolfgang A. Mozart: Clarinet Quintet KV581
Wolfgang A. Mozart: Allegro for Clarinet and String Quartet KV516c
Samples:
W. A. Mozart: Allegro for Clarinet and String Quartet KV516c
Alexander Glazunov: Réverie Orientale
Contact:
Harry-Imre Dijkstra
benneharry@hotmail.com
De Veenen 15
1251 SL Laren
The Netherlands
+31 355310500
+31 352101738
+31 634638381
