The Fiddler of Echternach

Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
Chœur national du Luxembourg
Pierre Cao - Musical Director
Anja Van Engeland - Sopran
Jef Martin - Tenor
Ekkehard Abele - Baritone

with Centre national de l’Audiovisuel, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Conservatoire de musique de la Ville de Luxembourg,
Bibliothèque nationale | CEDOM, Institut européen de chant choral, CID-Femmes et le Centre national de Littérature.


The ballad “The Fiddler of Echternach” tells the saga of “Big Velt”, a medieval fiddler who returns to his hometown of Echternach after a long absence. His greedy relatives, who have long since taken all his possessions, accuse him of murdering his wife. On the day that the innocent Velt is to be hung, he plays his instrument for one last time. When they hear the magic of his playing, his accusers and the bloodthirsty crowd of spectators who have gathered around the gallows break into a frenzied dance.

The play was written in 1966 by the Luxembourgian composer Lou Koster, according to the text of the Luxembourgian poet Nikolaus Welter (1871-1951). “The Fiddler of Echternach” was produced in 1972, one year before the composer died.

Lou Koster's work has just recently been rediscovered,as has its importance in Luxembourg's music history.


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