Gustav Leonhardt’s death in January 2012 deprived the early music movement of one of its greatest advocates. The importance of Leonhardt’s role in championing unjustly neglected repertoire and performing it on historical instruments can scarcely be overestimated.

From 31 August to 2 September 2012 Stimu (the Dutch Foundation for Historical Performance Practice) will present a symposium entitled Much of what we do is pure hypothesis: Gustav Leonhardt and his Early Music in collaboration with the Amsterdam Conservatorium. The musical and social context in which Leonhardt’s early work was carried out will be discussed, as well as the latest research into the music that he so much admired. The main scope will not be limited to the musically rich life of one individual, but will also focus on the directions the movement can choose to take, following the death of a person who has left an aesthetic mark of ongoing influence and enduring value.

The symposium will be preceded by a screening of Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach, the film by Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet, which was premièred in Utrecht 45 years ago, with performances by Leonhardt (in the role of J.S. Bach), Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Bob van Asperen.

language: mostly English, a few lectures are in Dutch or German

speakers: Kailan Rubinoff, Frits Zwart, Ton Koopman, John Butt, Richard Egarr, Pieter Dirksen, Thérèse de Goede, Peter Wollny and others.
curators: Pieter Dirksen and Jed Wentz

locations:

Fri 31: the film Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach will be showed at Wollf Camera (Oudegracht 156 in Utrecht). The symposium will continue in Instituto Cervantes (Domplein 3)

Sat 1 and Sun 2: the location of the symposium on these days is Academiegebouw, Senaatszaal (Domplein 29).

Coffee and tea are included, but you have to provide your own lunch.

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