Schumann's Dichterliebe 

by Brokking & van Vliet

November 8, 2026

On Sunday 8 November 2026, two young musicians from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague take the stage at the St. Aegtenkapel in Amersfoort: pianist Pieter Brokking and bass Eduard van Vliet. With a programme built around Robert Schumann, they dive into the heart of German Romanticism.

In Schumann's music, the piano stands as an equal alongside the voice. It is precisely in this interplay between keys and voice that his music unfolds its full power. The dark, resonant sound of the bass gives these songs weight and direction.

Eduard van Vliet

Eduard van Vliet has sung in a boys' choir since early childhood and began piano lessons at the age of seven. He studied with vocal pedagogue Irene Verburg and pianist Willem Brons. He also took part in De TUIN, a development programme of the Nationale Koren for young classical talent. In addition, Eduard has attended masterclasses with, among others, Elly Ameling, Peter Kooij, Sasja Hunnego, Henk Neven and Frank van Aken.

As a soloist and ensemble singer, Eduard has performed in renowned halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht and the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. As a treble, he was also part of the production AUS LICHT by Dutch National Opera. From September he begins his studies at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where he will study with the French baritone Yann Toussaint.

Pieter Brokking

Pieter Brokking is a young Dutch pianist who grew up in a highly musical family and came into contact with classical music at an early age. He began piano lessons at the age of eight and went on to develop his playing with, among others, José Kerremans, Frits Kroese and Henry Kelder. He currently studies piano at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague with Ellen Corver.

Pieter is a prizewinner at various competitions, including the Spotlight Concours 2025 and the Jong Talentenconcours Maassluis 2024, and recently made his debut with the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra. His playing is marked by sincerity and emotional engagement: he plays every piece with his heart, aiming to move his audience and draw them into the music.