The New Dutch Academy’s current, large scale project is “Dutch Crown Jewels – Symphonic Gems from the Court of Orange”.
The album’s post-production process is currently, excitingly, nearing completion. The album teaser trailer is out now! Enjoy it here:
The total Dutch Crown Jewels project brings to life recently unearthed musical treasures, making these available nationally and internationally in through a variety of activities, events, media and platforms including publications, workshops, live concerts in historically significant locations, broadcasts, a mini-documentary entitled “Moving Music. Going Dutch” and with the recording of the forthcoming album, “Dutch Crown Jewels” (CD, streaming and download). With the project, the NDA continues its work, delivering fresh musical perspectives and putting valuable Dutch and shared European cultural heritage back on the international map.
The album presents world-premiere recordings of rediscovered works by leading figures at the Court of Orange including composer and violinist Christian Ernst Graaf (1723 – 1804), composer and organist Wilhelm Gottlieb Hauff (1750 – 1816) and composer and keyboard virtuoso Johann August Just (1750 – 1791) alongside virtuoso arias by female composer at court Josina van Boetzelaer.
The album was successfully recorded in June 2023 as part of the NDA’s 20th anniversary celebrations and in celebration of the 300th birthday of Graaf. The successful recent crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter (January 2024) has enabled the commencement of the post-production work on the album. It is anticipated that the album will have its international release in mid 2025. Check out the album crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter
Photos of recording and concerts in June 2023 by Ievengiia Pavlenko:
Who was Graaf?
A trailblazer and a musical tastemaker, Graaf was at the helm of the school of composers which created the vibrant and cosmopolitan music scene in the Netherlands in the 18th century. Born in Rudolstadt in Thuringia in the heart of Germany, Graaf’s musical life story is a wonderful example of the historically rich and fruitful tradition of musical exchange between Germany and the Netherlands. After moving to the The Hague and being appointed Hofkapellmeister, he led the court orchestra, programmed the court’s concert series, and co-ordinated the visits of the slew of musical superstars who visited at the time including J.C. Bach, Abel, Mozart and Beethoven. Graaf’s own compositions were performed all over Europe and even at some of the very first symphonic concerts in Northern America. He helped lay the foundations for the famously internationally-orientated Dutch musical culture, which continues to flourish nowadays.
Enjoy the New Dutch Academy’s world premiere recording of Graaf’s Symphony in D here