Spraakmakers

In this new, special edition of Spraakmakers, renowned Belgian actor Jan Decleir and top actress Georgina Verbaan lend their voices to the music of the Dudok Quartet and pianist Hannes Minnaar. Together, they present two contemporary and thought-provoking stories about fear of life (Georgina Verbaan) and hereditary kingship (Jan Decleir) in one evening. The stories feed the music, and the music feeds the stories. In this way, Spraakmakers makes music from the past sound relevant again in today’s world.

This edition presents two stories in one theatrical evening:

Fear no more (Georgina Verbaan) | Is the Netherlands becoming more fearful? In 2025, one in four adults will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Fear seems increasingly inseparable from the fast-paced, performance-driven life of the 21st century. In Fear no more, actress Georgina Verbaan tells a story of existential fear through What Remains, the fourth string quartet by Dutch composer Joey Roukens. Performed by the Dudok Quartet, this piece feels like a whirlwind through times, sounds, and textures in which—if you listen closely—fear can also be heard. With this string quartet, the story of fear and facing it takes on a special resonance. And a healing effect, because if you didn’t know yet: classical music lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and the stress hormone cortisol.

Hereditary Kingship (Jan Decleir) | Our constitution is clear: the monarchy is inherited by the legitimate successors of King Willem I, Prince of Orange-Nassau. Yet this does not go without question, especially since the trust in the royal family has significantly decreased under the current king. In Hereditary Kingship, Belgian actor Jan Decleir tells a provocative story about the monarchy, determined by birth, with Beethoven’s Les Adieux sonata, performed by Hannes Minnaar. Isn’t it time to reconsider the hereditary monarchy, a late medieval concept? Shouldn’t we choose a ruler based on their track record? Beethoven wrote his sonata for and about his friend, Rudolf of Austria, an hereditary archduke. Through the music, Decleir—who has played many royal roles himself—guides the audience through the arguments for and against a born monarch.