Metropole Orkest: De Stem van Water

In De Stem van Water (The Voice of Water), the Metropole Orchestra, international water expert Henk Ovink and presenter Sophie Hilbrand take the audience on a unique audiovisual journey of discovery through the world of water. For water flows through everything: through landscapes, cities, stories and lives. It provides us with food, energy and space to live. At the same time, this indispensable resource is coming under ever-increasing pressure. What if water could speak? What would it tell us about today’s world? And what, according to water, is needed to make a future on our planet possible?

With impressive imagery, compelling music and inspiring stories, an evening unfolds that moves, amazes and provokes thought. Music forms the common thread throughout this journey of discovery. For centuries, composers and musicians have drawn inspiration from the power, movement and mystique of water. In this performance, the Metropole Orchestra brings water to life with new compositions and arrangements of well-known water-themed pieces. Henk Ovink places the major water issues of our time in an accessible and human perspective. Sophie Hilbrand guides the audience through the evening and brings the stories to life. Together with the Metropole Orchestra, a unique blend of music, knowledge and imagination emerges. De Stem van Water shows how water connects us all. It highlights the scale of the challenges, but above all how many solutions there are – if only we listen to what the water is trying to tell us.

About Henk Ovink
Henk Ovink is a leading international expert in the field of water and climate adaptation. He is Professor of Water Cycle Diplomacy and Design at Delft University of Technology and founder and Executive Director of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. For more than eight years, he served as the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ first Global Water Envoy. In that role, he worked globally to foster international cooperation on water security, climate change and sustainable development. He also played a key role in organising the 2023 UN Water Conference. Previously, Ovink was a member of former President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, where he worked on innovative solutions for reconstruction and climate resilience following Hurricane Sandy. Today, he bridges the gap between policy, science and practice worldwide to realise sustainable and equitable water solutions. He is also a visiting lecturer at University College London, a Senior Fellow at Wageningen University & Research, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

About Sophie Hilbrand
Sophie Hilbrand is a presenter, actress and programme maker. She first came to prominence at BNN with programmes such as 6pack and Spuiten en Slikken, and went on to become one of the most versatile figures on Dutch television. Throughout her career, she has presented a wide range of programmes, including Ruben vs Sophie, Op1 and, more recently, the talk show Bar Laat. Sophie is known for her curiosity, her incisive interviewing style and her ability to make complex topics accessible and personal. With her commitment, humour and genuine interest in people and social issues, she is the ideal host for this special evening where music, stories and knowledge come together.

About the Metropole Orchestra
The Metropole Orchestra is recognised worldwide as one of the finest orchestras in the world, dedicated entirely to jazz, soul, hip-hop, pop, film and groundbreaking music. With its unique line-up and international reputation, the orchestra has collaborated with icons and contemporary innovators alike, and has received worldwide acclaim, including several Grammy Awards. The orchestra is renowned for its distinctive sound and its ability to create music that moves, connects and surprises.

About Dirk de Bekker
Dirk de Bekker graduated cum laude from Cambridge and works as an investigative journalist, director and reporter. Since 2022, de Bekker has been writing about environmental and science-related topics, focusing, amongst other things, on the impact of pesticide use. He produces the podcast ‘Red de Lente’ and writes for ‘De Groene Amsterdammer’. In 2026, De Arbeiderspers published his debut book, ‘Het pesticidenparadijs’ (The Pesticide Paradise), an investigative journalism book about the hidden world behind pesticides.