The expulsion of Bommen Berend is celebrated every year on 28 August in Groningen with a large fireworks display. But if it is up to Coevorden, the city in Southeast Drenthe will also consider this soon.
This year it is 350 years ago that the bishop of Münster, also known as Bommen Berend, was expelled from Groningen. However, Bommen Berend was also expelled from Coevorden, but this story is unknown in Southeast Drenthe. The municipality of Coevorden wants to change that with the music theater piece Bommen Berend in the year that they are cultural municipality.
The performance is made in collaboration with the Municipality of Groningen and the Landmacht. The piece will be performed at the end of August in Coevorden, Groningen and Münster. The story is based on events in the east and north of the Netherlands in 1672. All ‘Disaster Year’ themes such as freedom of belief and expression, international cooperation, hope and pride in origin and region are discussed. The lyrics are sung in German, Dutch and Low Saxon and are ‘surtitled’ during the performance. “That means that we have a large container hanging above the stage with the text in Dutch, so that everyone can follow what is being sung,” explains director Bruun Kuijt.
‘The role of narcissist is fantastic’
The role of Bommen Berend is played by Nico Wouterse. He is a Dutch (opera) singer who has been living and working in Germany for over twenty years. Wouterse is accompanied by the Johan Willem Friso Chapel. The bass baritone can be heard in several operas and concerts in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Latvia, Montenegro, Switzerland and Germany, among others. This will be his first real concert series in the Netherlands and he is very enthusiastic about it.
“In addition, I am a fan of the orchestra that accompanies us and it is very nice to dive into Dutch history for this role,” says Wouterse. What attracts him most in the role of Bommen Berend ‘is the fact that the man was not aware of any harm’. “He couldn’t understand why the Dutch didn’t want to hand over their cities to him,” Wouterse laughs. “It’s a lot of fun to play that narcissistic and opportunistic role.”