Julien Libeer

The Belgian pianist Julien Libeer (b. 1987) is internationally acclaimed for his profound musical approach, expressive interpretations and lucid intellectual vision. His playing combines technical clarity with refined sensitivity, inviting audiences to rediscover the repertoire of Bach, Mozart, Ravel and many others time and again.

At the age of four Julien saw Bernstein conduct his West Side Story; his next major inspirator was the Romanian pianist Dinu Lipatti. A decisive influence in his artistic formation was the Franco-Polish pedagogue Jean Fassina, followed by an intense artistic collaboration with Maria João Pires at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. From her Julien learned that “freedom” is one’s most precious possession, on stage and beyond. He deliberately avoided piano competitions and further refined his artistry in masterclasses with among others, Alfred Brendel, Dmitry Bashkirov and the Artemis and Alban Berg Quartets.

Julien is Artist in Residence at Flagey (Brussels) and has performed in leading concert halls and festivals such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall and Barbican Hall in London, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and the Enescu Festival. As a soloist he has collaborated with orchestras including the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Belgian National Orchestra, and Sinfonia Varsovia, with conductors such as Trevor Pinnock and Jun Märkl.

His discography on Harmonia Mundi and Evil Penguin Records has received international praise, with particular attention to his Bach projects and his dedication to Dinu Lipatti. Conceptual programmes such as A Well-Tempered Conversation reveal his ability to connect repertoire in historically informed and creatively imaginative ways. Together with Daniel Reuss of Cappella Amsterdam he has further developed these ideas in innovative concert formats.

Alongside his performing career Julien is deeply committed to music education and audience development. He is the artistic director of the children’s choir Singing Molenbeek and the initiator of Salon Libeer—projects that use music as a means of dialogue, reflection and social growth.

As a little girl I walked with my mother in Naarden Vesting, on the way to the Turfpoortstraat, on the way to my grandmother. I can’t remember much about my visit to grandma, but what I still remember clearly are the high sidewalks and the buildings! The Spanish House, the Andreas Church! The former church building that was built by the Robert F.W. Bruinsma foundation was converted into a concert hall. How did that happen?

In my youth I listened to the St Matthew Passion many times in the Grote Kerk in Naarden. My parents were both organizationally involved in these beautiful performances by the Netherlands Bach Society. At that time, the seeds were sown for my development in and love for music. After my childhood and schooling, my husband and I have done a lot of work abroad and have lived in France for 25 years. The music then came into the background a bit, but it never really left my head. My husband passed away in 2005.

During that period I started organizing piano concerts on our estate in France. It was a success! And it gave me the energy and the idea to take up that also in the Netherlands after I sold the estate. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, the Robert F.W. Bruinsma set up. The main objective of our foundation is to support young musicians, especially piano students, on their way to their future.

The Andreaskerk in the Turfpoortstraat in Naarden Vesting has been purchased with the aim of creating a home base for the activities of our foundation. After three years of renovation, we have transformed the former church into a small-scale concert hall. In the initial phase of the renovation I met the pianist Nino Gvetadze. She was introduced to me by Jan Wijn, a well-known piano pedagogue in the Netherlands. Nino and I had a few conversations and it soon became clear that we are on the same page regarding thoughts about music and youth. So Nino presented her plan to me. An idea to bring young top talent from the piano master’s program at the conservatories into contact with people who are important for their development on the way to their career. And this was the starting signal for the ‘Naarden International Piano Festival’. We are both very proud that it has come to this.

You have a dream but you have to dare to stick your neck out to make it come true. Persevere, don’t hesitate, go after your goal!
Music connects people!
We hope to connect students with master pianists!
With a small team of employees, we are doing our best to put this festival on the map for the future.
We hope to offer you as an audience a few days of beautiful music!

Hankie Bruinsma Verbrugh (December 14, 1946 – October 23, 2023)
Co-founder of the Naarden International Piano Festival
Founder and former chairman of the Robert F.W. Bruinsma Foundation