Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam: Kafka-Fragmente

Plein Theater hosts Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam: Kafka-Fragmente on December 13, 2026 at 15:00. Soprano Keren Motseri and violinist Joseph Puglia perform György Kurtág’s Kafka-Fragmente. The concert is part of Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam, a concert series for contemporary music at Plein Theater.

Kafka-Fragmente is a masterpiece by Hungarian composer György Kurtág and an iconic piece from the twentieth century. It consists of 40 short parts, each based on fragments from letters, diaries and narrative prose by Franz Kafka. The cycle is an introspective journey into Kafka’s world, with each fragment giving sound to its own emotion and atmosphere. The two musicians traveled to Budapest twice to work intensively on the piece with Kurtág. The work asks the utmost of both musicians: the soprano needs a broad vocal range, extreme dynamics and a wide range of expression, often bordering on the theatrical; the violinist must use a large range of techniques, beyond the conventions of traditional violin playing.

Keren Motseri studied cello and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology before starting an international career as a vocalist. She is a celebrated opera singer devoted to both classical and contemporary repertoire. He is considered one of the most versatile violinists of his generation.

Good to know: Address: Plein Theater, Sajetplein 39, 1091 DB Amsterdam.