Music connects people in the Sibeliusstraat
The doorbell rings. You open the door and violin music enters your house. A woman in an evening gown plays the violin and behind her stands Jean Sibelius, wearing a historical costume. At the same time your neighbours come out to witness this special event. This experience happened to all the residents of the Sibeliusstraat, starting from spring 2017.
EELT Theatercollectief and ContourdeTwern bring Sibelius, the Finnish composer who died in 1957 and gave his name to the Sibeliusstraat, back to life in this diverse and colorful post-war neighbourhood.
“Music connects people” quotes Monique Zijp of EELT Theatercollectief. “All residents of the Sibeliusstraat, wherever their roots may be, share at least one thing: their street called Sibelius. But most of the people in the street are not familiar with the music Sibelius wrote, just as they don’t know their neighbours. With Sibelius at the front door we address this issue. Listening to intimate violin music, neighbours meet and get to know each other in a pleasant way”.
Jean Sibelius (EELT actor Roel Kox) treats the public to his music and asks the residents if they like this special music as everyone likes music. Especially an 8 year old boy, as he attended the concert four times!
Sibelius asks the residents of the street “What aspect of this street makes you proud? What do you remember in 30 years about this street? I am heritage, but what is the the heritage of the future here?”. After contemplating the residents mention they like the spaciousness of the neighbourhood, the quiteness, the grass, the trees Etc.. And so the conversation between the neighbours starts.
The social workers of ContourdeTwern attended the concerts and joined the conversations to receive questions and answers from the residents. Social worker Mariët van de Laar adds: “In this way residents get to know each other and the feeling of security and trust grows in the neighbourhood, using music and creativity!”.
Sibelius at the front door
