Frank Zappa was one of the most important and influential composers of the twentieth century. The leader of The Mothers of Invention explored and shifted the boundaries between pop and jazz, commercialism and experimentation, classical and contemporary music. In close collaboration with Frank Zappa´s widow Gail, the Holland Festival is devoting in June in Amsterdam an extensive programme of concerts, films and performances to this musical innovator.

This tribute to Frank Zappa is part of the 53^rd edition of the Holland Festival, the most distinghuished festival for the performing arts in The Netherlands.

The Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, with an additional complement of rock musicians and singers, will play the music written by Frank Zappa for his road movie 200 Motels (1972). Jurjen Hempel directs. This will be the first time that this music has been performed live. Arranger Ali N. Askin studied Franks’ archives at the request of his widow, Gail. He discovered new material that he then incorporated into the suite. Collaborators in the performance include soprano Claron McFadden, drummer Morgen Agren, keyboard player Mats Oberg and the Cappella Amsterdam choir.

The Ensemble Modern, who had a great deal of success at last years’ Holland Festival, has a great reputation in the field of twentieth-century music. The company collaborated with Frank Zappa on the Yellow Shark Project in the early nineties. At the festival, the ensemble will perform the ‘radio play’ The Adventures of Greggery Peccary and twelve other Zappa pieces, including Dental Hygiene Dilemma and The Dangerous Kitchen under the direction of Peter Eötvös. With baritone Omar Ebrahim, pianist and singer Hermann Kretzschmar and vocal artist David Moss.

The Metropole Orkest, lead by Dick Bakker, will perform an ode to Frank Zappa featuring both classical and popular repertoire. The programme includes The Grand Wazoo, Duke of Prunes, Blessed Relief, Regyptian Strut, Big Swifty, Echidna’s Arf, Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?, RDNZL and Waka Jawaka. Bruce Fowler, trombone player of The Mothers of Invention, may also participate (to be confirmed).

An Oscar van Woensel musical theatre production presented by the Dood Paard theatre group. Van Woensel combines his own writings with texts from Zappa’s Civilization Phase III. This 1967 recording, released posthumously, contains Zappa’s digital synclavier samples of engines, text, pigs, ponies, water, smoke, music and beer. A tour around words, phrases and concepts that Zappa described as ‘conversations from within the depths of a piano.’

The spaces in De Balie will be transformed into Frank Zappa’s Umwelt, with live music by soloists and groups such as The Ebony Band. Composer Louis Andriessen presents a Zappa-style reading/performance.

As a part of the ZAPPA program, the Filmmuseum will screen videos, films and documentaries directed by Zappa and some of Zappa’s favourite films. An ode to a film freak who’s anarchistic work seems a source of inspiration: ‘Everything impossible is of interest’.