Musical Theatre Company Oorkaan Performs “Glimpse” at Brooklyn Academy of Music

In May 2019, Dutch youth music theatre company Oorkaan will perform their award-winning toddler production Glimpse, in a series of concerts for families and schools at BAM, the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

What do colors sound like? Who can understand the moon? What is the sun saying? What sounds lower – a double bass or a drum? How do you play a flash? How do you sing a tree? How many colors does a dream have?

Glimpse transports you to an enchanted dream world, in which sounds and images play an exciting game with one another and with you. It is a music performance for toddlers and their (grand)parents, in which musicians, music, images, technology and audiences embark on a special friendship.

Read the article “Oorkaan: Lead Role for Musicians” to learn more about the ‘Oorkaan method’.

Schedule for families

Saturday, May 4, 10.30 am & 3.30 pm
Sunday, May 5, 10.30 am & 3.30 pm
Saturday, May 11, 10.30 am & 3.30 pm
Sunday, May 12, 10.30 am & 3.30 pm

Tickets via Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Schedule for schools

May 7-11, 11.00 am

Tickets via Brooklyn Academy of Music.

On stage

Lotte van Dijck – vocals/images
Tony Overwater – double bass/violone/composition
Rob Kloet – percussion/composition

Behind the scenes

Bram de Goeij – director
Atty Kingma – costumes
Remko Smids – technical director
Machiel Veltkamp/Maplab – development software

Glimpse was made in collaboration with MAPLAB – the HKU MEdia and Performance Laboratory. Many thanks to Ingrid Wolff/Festival Twee Turven Hoog.

Glimpse has been touring successfully since September 2014. Performances (abroad) include among others: North Sea Jazz Kids 2015 (The Netherlands), Philharmonie Luxembourg (Luxembourg), deSingel Antwerp (Belgium), Opera de Lille at the Big Bang Festival (France), MITO Settembre Musica Festival (Italy), Nikolaisaal Potsdam (Germany), and Festspielhaus Baden-Baden (Germany).

"A magical production for 2-4 year olds that integrates light and visuals in the most extraordinary way. Masterfully played, the performance maintains an exemplary balance between the music, its graphic elements and the interaction with the children. Their primary role as excellent jazz musicians is never overshadowed by the visuals, rather, it gives the audience a new way to relate and explore a world of music and sound." Glimpse was the winner of the YAMawards 2015 for 'Best music production of the year' and 'Best small ensemble'. 

"A Dutch jewel that plays on the interaction between music and live painting (...) The execution is precious and refined, but capable of entering into direct communication with an audience through interaction." La Repubblica Milano, 2016

"Oorkaan knows how to touch precisely the right chord with the children. The performance is distinguished by its poetry and musicality. But what makes it so good is that it gives the young audience just enough leads to stir their imagination. And that means that the performance contributes to developing creativity. That is a beautiful function of theatre - and not just for children." De Theaterkrant, 2014

Oorkaan – Glimpse © Ronald Knapp

About the performers

Lotte van Dijck studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and later followed a course in theatre and poetry at the Schrijversvakschool. She has created various music performances for young audiences and their parents, some of them together with Tony Overwater. She is multi-talented and is also a singer-songwriter and illustrator.

Rob Kloet has been the drummer of the famous Dutch band The Nits since 1974, but he has also been giving solo performances since 2006. Among others, he has played with poet Anne van Amstel, and with her he made Vlinderslag, a book of poems with CD.

Bass player Tony Overwater has a sound all his own. His unique way of playing has made him famous both in the Netherlands and abroad. Also a composer, Tony has often written pieces for music performances for young audiences.

Bram de Goeij studied theatre directing at the Theaterschool Amsterdam and has developed his career since then as a director, actor, writer, and illustrator. Bram did a.o. the digital direction of AaiPet (for BonteHond), which won the 2015 Zilveren Krekel for the most impressive production for young audiences.

About Oorkaan

Founded in 2000 in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Oorkaan is the only music ensemble in The Netherlands that has dedicated itself exclusively to the creation of high quality staged concerts for young audiences. Our aim is to give every child the opportunity to experience the power of live music. The staged concerts for 1,5 to 12-year-olds focus on all kinds of live classical music from all over the world, performed by outstanding musicians. For the creation of the productions, Oorkaan has developed the internationally recognized Oorkaan Method, which makes it unique in the world. Under the artistic direction of Caecilia Thunnissen, Oorkaan presents about 7 music productions per season and organizes roughly 200 performances a year in The Netherlands and abroad.

The organization of Oorkaan is comprised of three departments: Production, Research & Development and Education. For each new production, Oorkaan brings together musicians and artists from various disciplines. These staged concerts are mostly without words, making them suitable for international tours. In the Research & Development department, Oorkaan trains talented musicians in their performance and physical acting skills according to the Oorkaan Method. Theatre makers get the opportunity to experiment with the creation of staged concerts for young audiences. The Education Department presents a comprehensive educational program for primary schools, consisting of workshops, teaching materials, and performances.

Did you know? * The name ‘Oorkaan’ is a pun on the Dutch word ‘orkaan’, meaning ‘hurricane’. The word ‘oor’ means ‘ear’. In a translation the word ‘hearricane’ might come close to the meaning of ‘Oorkaan’.