ConcertPulse
Florian Verweij explores Paris: Roger-Ducasse, Boulanger, Fauré and Franck
Het Concertgebouw, Recital Hall (Amsterdam)
Florian Verweij (1997) explores four composers who charted their musical paths in Paris around 1900. As a pianist with a passion for composers who linger in the shadows of music history, he brings to light the music of Debussy’s colleague Jean Roger-Ducasse. Florian: ‘Roger-Ducasse was a true composer for the piano and wrote intense and intoxicating music with multicoloured harmonies.’ He also performs a work by Lili Boulanger, who died tragically at 24. ‘Her Thème et variations sweeps you into an endless fever dream.’ The evening is rounded out with music by their mentor Gabriel Fauré and the nestor of the French music scene, César Franck.With his successful debut in the Recital Hall in 2023, Florian Verweij demonstrated his poetic piano playing and sensitive storytelling. ‘He played with a sense of heroism and nobility... technically, the Dutch pianist’s performance was exceptionally strong,’ wrote music magazine De Nieuwe Muze. Florian Verweij studied with Jan Wijn and Naum Grubert and completed both his bachelor's and master's degrees with the highest distinction at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. His debut album will be released with the Amsterdam label Gutman Records in November 2024.