Het Muziek – The Usual & AESOP 2

In The Usual, composer Karmit Fadael and four musicians from Het Muziek take the audience on a musical and theatrical exploration of the subtle yet disruptive power of microaggressions. Comments and behaviors that seem innocent or even well-intentioned take on a new meaning in the context of personal experiences or genuine aggression. When does a look become hurtful? And why do we take some power games for granted? With a sharp eye, a touch of humor, and a nod to the work of composer Luciano Berio, Fadael exposes the mechanisms of our unconscious biases. The Usual is a short, provocative musical theater piece that explores the boundaries between discomfort and aggression.

AESOP 2 is the sequel to Aesop (2019), a piece for recorder soloist and eight orchestra members. In that earlier work, the classical concerto model was turned on its head: the orchestra musicians not only played their own instruments but were also asked to play the recorder without any training. The result was a thrilling interplay between virtuosity and awkwardness, between control and vulnerability. In AESOP 2, that balance shifts. Once again, the recorder takes center stage, but this time it’s the soloist himself who embodies the uncertain, almost nostalgic sound of the untrained player. The composer, without formal training or lessons, takes on the solo role himself. In a world of professionally trained musicians, he stands alone: ​​vulnerable, honest, and full of doubt. AESOP 2 is therefore not only a musical experiment but also a personal statement about skills (or ignorance), identity, and the courage to expose oneself.