Dutch (piano) master visits Langley

All the way from the Netherlands, acclaimed Dutch pianist and composer Jeroen Van Veen comes to Langley Community Music School (LCMS) to perform in the Concerts Café Classico concert series Nov. 16.

Dubbed the “Powerhouse of Piano,” Van Veen follows up the show with a free workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Currently touring Canada, Van Veen will be returning to Langley to treat the Concerts Café Classico audience to the music from his latest CDs, featuring composers such as Philip Glass, Arvo Part, Ludovico Einaudi, Douwe Eisenga, JacobTV, as well as his own original compositions.

World renowned for his minimalist style and flawless passion, the “intellectually interesting and emotionally gratifying” performances continue to be heralded by critics.

Van Veen has toured the globe performing minimal music with crossover flavours of jazz, blues, soundscape, avant-garde, techno, trance and pop. 

He has produced more than 100 CDs, and has been featured on radio and television in Europe, Asia and America. 

The event starts at 2:30 p.m. featuring a conversation with the artist, hosted by LCMS artistic director Elizabeth Bergmann. Listen to some anecdotes, gain some insight into life as a world-travelling performer, and learn the meaning behind the music.

There will be a short break with coffee and refreshments, before the performance from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tickets for this Concerts Café Classico event are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $10 for students.

Call the box office at 604-534-2848. The Rose Gellert Hall is located at 4899 207th St.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeroen back to Langley,” said Bergmann. “To great acclaim, he performed at our Pulse summer music festival in July 2011.   I look forward to chatting with him in the pre-concert talk about his musical insights on the works he will be performing.”

In addition to the concert, Van Veen is inviting the public to a free interactive workshop on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to explore this modern yet romantic minimal music style.

To learn more about Van Veen, visit his website at www.jeroenvanveen.com.