Witches’ Fire
Three songs by four (!) composers, set to text by an equally brilliant and hilarious author. Stand-up classicist Natalie Haynes – you’ll remember her from the first They Have Waited Long Enough – writes poetry about alleged witches. Three women who finally get to share their own voice, after centuries of men using theirs to fuel fear of the unknown. The song for Hecate, the Greek goddess of magic, lunar nights, and mysterious crossroads, is entrusted to Amarante Nat. Saskia Venegas gets Maria San Juan de Garonda, for which she specifically employs Basque percussion. And Diamanda Dramm and Katharine Dain come together to compose for the ‘witch’ Mother Shipton, who appeared to see the future from inside the forests around York. 

Want to know more about the performance or read along with the texts? Open the special program booklet here. 

Katharine Dain – soprano
Raphaëla Danksagmüller – duduk, kaval, flutes
Marianna Sorokova & Maria Martpay – txalaparta, crystal bowl & waterphone
Diamanda Dramm– violin on tape
Bram Trouwborst – voice on tape

Ragazze Quartet
Rosa Arnold – violin
Jeanita Vriens-van Tongeren – violin
Annemijn Bergkotte – viola
Nathalie Flintrop – cello

Co-producers: Gaudeamus, September Me, and Schiermonnikoog Festival