A visit to Vuurtoreneiland (Lighthouse Island) is quite an experience. The island is wild and seemingly undiscovered. In this rough landscape you will find animals, rare flora, a dilapidated fortress and Amsterdam’s only lighthouse.
Grachtenfestival Amsterdam invited the Keuris Quartet to explore the history of the island and of the Stelling van Amsterdam, of which the fortress is part.
The Keuris Quartet was named after Tristan Keuris. The Dutch composer wrote two authoritative works for saxophone quartet. The Keuris Quartet makes a conscious choice for contemporary music for their repertoire.
The young musicians were inspired by ‘War and Peace’, the masterpiece by Leo Tolstoj which he finished nearly 150 years ago, in 1866. In War and Peace Tolstoj describes Napoleon’s invasion of Russia and its impact on tsarist society. From his personal perspective, Tolstoj searches for reasons why specific events took place and whether these events were irreversible. A bigger contrast than War and Peace is unthinkable, and at the same time the two hold each other in an elusive balance, in which the scale can be tipped at any given moment.
At present, we are confronted with the same issues. The four men of the Keuris Quartet were moved by the recent events in Europe and in the rest of the world. They invite the audience to take a closer look at this fragile balance. The Keuris Quartet will play music by composers who have suffered during a war.
Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams for example, who fought as a volunteer in World War I, or Russian composer Sergej Prokofjev, born in what is now Ukraine. Using the words of author Lev Tolstoj they try to shed light on the balance between war and peace.
Water, silence, light and air are the defining elements of Vuurtoreneiland. With the program War and Peace the Keuris Quartet is adding a new dimension to his mythical place.
Situated in the Markermeer near Durgerdam, Vuurtoreneiland can be reached only by boat. During the boat trip, you will be informed by Kees de Wildt, guide of the Stichting Militair Erfgoed Groot-Amsterdam, about the Defence Line of Amsterdam, focusing on the Zuiderzeefront: the part between Edam and Naarden, which comprised the coastal batteries of Durgerdam, Diemerdam and Pampus.
Grachtenfestival Amsterdam wishes you an unforgettable Expedition!
A special boat will take you to Vuurtoreneiland. On board you will be served with coffee, tea or a soda and a croissant.
The boat sails out near Krijn Takoniskade 124, in the harbour of IJburg Amsterdam.