Who is Jan Hage
Jan Hage (born 1964) gives many concerts at home and abroad and makes radio TV and CD recordings. He is a warm advocate and much sought-after interpreter of contemporary organ music. As a soloist, he has performed with a.o. the Percussion Group The Hague, the Asko|Schönberg and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. As a composer, he wrote works for organ and ensembles.
In 2016, he received his PhD from the Protestant Theological University in Amsterdam. His dissertation is entitled 'Music as mission. A Lutheran sound in a Calvinist world. A study of Willem Mudde and the church musical renewal movement.'
As organist, Jan Hage is associated with the Cathedral in Utrecht where he plays the majestic Bätz organ. He himself says of this:
"It is obviously a top spot, with a great organ that I love. I took my final exams there in 1991. For me, it is one of the top places in the Netherlands with international appeal, alongside, for example, the Bavo in Haarlem, the Grote Kerk in Dordrecht and the Sint-Jan in Gouda. Not everywhere is as churchly active anymore. In the Domkerk they are, with a service every Sunday and a vesper every Wednesday. It could hardly be better."
Prices
- the Prémier Prix 'à l'unanimité du jury' after studying with André Isoir
- First prize at National Organ Competition in Leiden (category 20ste century music)
- First prize the Swiss Organ Competition in Schaffhausen
- Premier Concours de l'interprétation de Musique Classique in Poitier (single edition)
- In 2006, he received the médaille d'argent of Société Académique Arts-Sciences-Lettresin Paris for his achievements in French organ culture
Reviews
Volkskrant (****)
'Insofar as he wasn't already, with this recording proves Jan Hage that he is among the absolute best of organ-playing Holland.'
10 in Listen
About the CD with music by Jan Welmers, Listen wrote: 'This is without fail the most important organ release of the year 2017.'