Peter-Jan Wagemans

(1952) is one of the Netherlands' best known composers. In his work Wagemans aims at developing and renewing the European tradition. In the last ten years Wagemans’ work has been performed by virtually every Dutch orchestra and musical group. In February 2007 his opera Legende (Legend) had its premiere, and was reviewed favourably. The libretto of this opera is based on the 19th century fairy-tale of Meester Prikkebeen (Master Pricklylegs). In 2005 his work Gravity Music was performed, written for the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. In addition Hagemans has composed work for the Schönberg Ensemble as well as a piano cycle for pianist Tomoko Mukaijama. In 1999 he was recipient of the ANV-Visser-Neerlandiaprijs and in 1990 won the Matthijs Vermeulenprijs. Wagemans lectures Composition and Theory of Music at the conservatory of Rotterdam and from 2000-2006 he worked as a musical programmer with the Holland Symfonia Orchestra.