From 15–17 October 2027, the TRANSIT Festival returns to Leuven/Louvain, celebrating the very best of 21st Century Music and presenting numerous world premieres of new works. This year, the acclaimed UK vocal ensemble Exaudi joins the festival. The program includes the world premiere of a new composition by Rozalie Hirs, […]
Author: Rozalie Hirs
Rozalie Hirs (born 7 April 1965) is a Dutch composer of contemporary classical music and a poet. Her poetry and music are lyrical as well as innovative. The principal concerns of her work are the adventure of listening, reading, and the imagination.
From 1991 until 1998 Hirs studied composition at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague: from 1991 until 1994 with Diderik Wagenaar, from 1994 until 1998 with Louis Andriessen, occasionally taking additional composition lessons with Gilius van Bergeijk and Clarence Barlow. She holds a Master of Music degree from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.
From 1999 until 2002 she furthered her education in composition with the French Spectralist Tristan Murail at Columbia University, New York, United States. She obtained her Doctor of Musical Arts title from Columbia University in 2007.
A prolific composer, Rozalie Hirs has collaborated with Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Klangforum Wien, Asko/Schönberg, Quatuor Bozzini, Holland Festival, November Music, among others.
As a poet, Rozalie Hirs has published six poetry books in Dutch with the renowned Amsterdam-based Singel Uitgeverijen| Uitgeverij Querido. In addition, five poetry books have appeared in other languages (German, multilingual, Spanish, Serbian, and English) so far.
new work – elisabeth hetherington & ensemble, muziekgebouw aan ’t ij, amsterdam
On 13 May 2027 at 8:15 PM, the boundary-pushing new music ensemble Het Muziek (formerly ASKO|Schönberg) performs as part of the Thursday Evening Series at the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam. The programme includes a newly commissioned work by Rozalie Hirs, composed to her own text for soprano Elisabeth […]
clarinet concerto, lars wouters van den oudenweijer, de ereprijs – world premiere
In early April 2027, the Ensemble Ereprijs presents a special series of concerts featuring the world premiere of a brand-new clarinet concerto by Rozalie Hirs. Commissioned by the ensemble, the concerto is written for and dedicated to clarinetist Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer, who performs the solo part. Further details […]
new work for elisabeth hetherington, amare, the hague – world premiere
On 26 November 2026 at 20:15 CET, a new work by Rozalie Hirs premieres at Amare (Nieuwe kerk), The Hague, The Netherlands. The song cycle, based on Hirs’ own poetry, is composed for soprano Elisabeth Hetherington and large ensemble; it was commissioned by Het Muziek (formerly ASKO|Schönberg). The programme also […]
feeling-thinking or embodied cognition in the poetry of rozalie hirs and anne carson – helena van praet, bloomsbury group
On 3 September 2026, Bloomsbury Academic (Bloomsbury Group, London) releases Feeling-Thinking or Embodied Cognition in the Poetry of Rozalie Hirs and Anne Carson, a new book by Belgian scholar Helena Van Praet (see photo), FWO Junior Postdoctoral Fellow in Dutch and Comparative Literature at Ghent University.
poetry performance, watou live, poperinge, belgium
On Sunday, 19 July 2026, at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, Rozalie Hirs gives a poetry reading during Watou Live in Poperinge, Belgium. The full line-up of Watou Live is announced in spring 2026. You are warmly invited! Specifically, Rozalie Hirs performs the poetry cycle she wrote for the exhibition […]
sonic cheese – exhibition, watou, belgium
From 15 July until 31 August 2026, the visual arts and poetry festival Watou takes place in Watou. The artists’ collective Blobotone, Frouke Wiarda (BE/NL), and Judith van der Elst (NL), together with cheesemaker Leen van Zelderen (NL), create and present the ecological exhibition Sonic Cheese and the Taste of […]
vragen naar het begin (2026), paard van troje, ghent – book launch
On Sunday afternoon, 28 June 2026, from 15:00 to 17:00, Bookshop Paard van Troje in Ghent, Belgium, presents the new poetry collection vragen naar het begin (Querido, 2026) by Rozalie Hirs. Poets Lies Van Gasse, Sandrine Verstraete, Tom Van de Voorde, and Rozalie Hirs read from their own work. There […]
dreams of airs (2017-18), zondvloed festival, deventer
On Saturday, 13 June 2026, the Zondvloed Festival takes place in Deventer, featuring performances by Spinvis & Saartje van Camp, Joke van Leeuwen, Meindert Talma, Rozalie Hirs, Maria Barnas, Tjitske Jansen, Idwer de la Parra, Dorpsoudste de Jong, Rutger Zuydervelt (Machinefabriek), Rihab El Majdoubi, and Xillan Macrooy. Zondvloed is organized […]
vragen naar het begin (2026), bilthovense boekhandel – book launch
On Friday morning, 12 June 2026, from 11:00 to 12:00, the Bilthoven Bookshop, Vinkenlaan 2, Bilthoven, presents the new poetry collection vragen naar het begin (Querido, 2026) by Rozalie Hirs. Bookseller Ike Bekking hosts the morning. Geert Buelens interviews Rozalie Hirs about her new book. Hirs reads from the new […]
vragen naar het begin (2026), athenaeum bookshop, amsterdam – booklaunch
On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, from 17:00 to 19:00, Bookshop Athenaeum | Scheltema at Spui in Amsterdam presents the new poetry collection vragen naar het begin (Querido, 2026) by Rozalie Hirs. Thijs Joores, editor at Querido, hosts the afternoon. There is also an opportunity for book signing and drinks. You […]
vragen naar het begin (2026), roelants – book launch
On Sunday afternoon, 7 June 2026, from 15:00 to 17:00, Bookshop Roelants in Nijmegen presents the new poetry collection vragen naar het begin (Querido, 2026) by Rozalie Hirs. Bookseller Julius Roelants (photo below) hosts the afternoon. Piet Gerbrandy interviews Rozalie Hirs about the new collection. Tsead Bruinja, Annelie David, Piet […]
vragen naar het begin (2026)
On 3 June 2026, Rozalie Hirs’s tenth poetry collection, vragen naar het begin (2026), is published by Querido. inhoud 1. read you are like no other tethys where the world begins 2. events 3. flyer 4. notes lees you are like no other translation to follow tethys translation […]
composer-in-residence, yaddo, saratoga springs, united states
From 22 April through 2 June 2026, Rozalie Hirs is composer-in-residence at Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, United States. During her residency, she works on a new commissioned work for soprano Elisabeth Hetherington (see photo below) and Het Muziek (formerly ASKO|Schönberg), which premieres during the 2026/27 season. “What music is remains an […]
![article 8 [infinity] (2014), esslingen am neckar – german premiere](https://rozalie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/260509-Isabelle-Raphaelis-foto-Ricardo-Nunes-768x1150.jpg)
article 8 [infinity] (2014), esslingen am neckar – german premiere
On 9 May 2026, German flutist Isabelle Raphaelis performs a recital at the Württemberger Landesbühne in Esslingen am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The program includes the German premiere of article 8 [infinity] (2014) by Rozalie Hirs. Isabelle Raphaelis (see portrait above by Ricardo Nunes) is a flutist active in both historical […]
anneke brassinga, rozalie hirs – international women’s day, vreedehuis, the hague
On 8 March 2026, International Women’s Day, Anneke Brassinga and Rozalie Hirs are guests at the Vreedehuis in The Hague. The event brings the two poets together for readings and an on-stage conversation. At the invitation of programmer and host Frieda Zwanikken, Gia van den Akker presents an eurythmic interpretation […]
rhythm of meaning – spanish interview victor vimos, arruaje de pájaros, mexico
3 March 2026. Today, the Spanish-language interview ‘El ritmo del significado’ by Víctor Vimos with Rozalie Hirs was published in the Mexican poetry magazine Carruaje de Pájaros. The interview includes a selection of poems from Hirs’ ecologica (Vleugels, 2023), translated into Spanish by Micaela Van Muylem. Two months ago, the […]
music lecture – young composers’ meeting
On Monday, 2 March 2026, from 19:00 to 19:45 CET, Rozalie Hirs presents a lecture on her music during the Young Composers’ Meeting, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. Various compositional ideas and her recent albums Infinity Stairs (2025) and Rosehart (2025) are discussed. The above photo shows the dress rehearsal of Hirs’ […]
come sempre (2025) – riverside, california, united states
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM, the distinguished soprano Susan Narucki presents a recital together with coloratura soprano Kirsten Ashley Wiest in Riverside, United States. The program features works by Marti Epstein, Kaija Saariaho, and Rozalie Hirs. The lunchtime concert is free and open to the public. Rozalie […]
poetry publication – onderzees alfabet
On 23 February 2026, the poem ‘Mariana Trench’ by Rozalie Hirs was published on the website Onderzees Alfabet (English: Undersea Alphabet). She wrote the poem on commission from Bureau Mail Man VZW, Ghent, Belgium. The portrait above, depicting Rozalie as her totem animal — the bottlenose dolphin — was painted […]
poets’ marathon 2026, perdu, amsterdam
On Friday, 30 January 2026 at 7:30 PM, the Dichtersmarathon (Poets’ Marathon) 2026 takes place at Perdu in Amsterdam. The concept of the Dichtersmarathon is simple and powerful: thirty poets each give a reading of up to five minutes, presenting three poems—two of their own and one by an international […]
![article 8 [infinity] (2014) – nieuwe noten, amsterdam](https://rozalie.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/160130-Marieke-Franssen-rehearsal-article-8-infinity-by-Rozalie-Hirs-768x768.jpg)
article 8 [infinity] (2014) – nieuwe noten, amsterdam
On Saturday 17 January 2026 at 20:30 CET, Nieuwe Noten presents a new edition of Composer’s Treat at the Plein Theater, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The Japanese composer Minami Nagai (1993) is the guest of honor, joining the versatile flutist Marieke Franssen for a special performance. In addition, Franssen also performs […]
come sempre (2025) – san diego, united states – world premiere
On Wednesday 14 January 2026, acclaimed soprano Susan Narucki presents a recital at the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, San Diego, United States. An evening of music that explores the fusion of poetry and music through the prism of a wide range of compositional styles and practices. With longtime colleague and […]
rhythm of meaning – spanish interview victor vimos, transtierros
17 January 2026. Today, the Spanish-language interview EL RITMO DEL SIGNIFICADO by Víctor Vimos with Rozalie Hirs was published on Transterrios. The interview also includes a selection of poems from Hirs’ ecologica (Vleugels, 2023), translated into Spanish by Micaela Van Muylem. Enjoy reading!
avatar (2022) – een os op het dak, concertzender
On 4 January 2026 at 5:00 PM, a new episode of Een os op het dak, curated by Thea Derks (pictured above), is broadcast on the Concertzender. This afternoon features works by Anna Arkushyna, Sofia Goebaidoelina, Klaas de Vries, and Rozalie Hirs. program Anna Arkushyna – So they grow like […]
member advisory board – dutch foundation for literature
Starting January 1, 2026, Rozalie Hirs has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of the Dutch Foundation for Literature (Nederlands Letterenfonds). The foundation seeks advice on the allocation of grants from an Advisory Board. The advisors possess extensive knowledge of both national and international literature, with expertise […]
infinity stairs (2025) – the 25 best dutch albums of 2025, nrc
17 December 2025. Today, NRC has announced their selection of 25 best Dutch albums of the year 2025. The album Infinity Stairs by Rozalie Hirs is in the top 10! The list was compiled based on the top picks of NRC reviewers Marnix Bilderbeek, Hester Carvalho, Jonasz Dekkers, Joost Galema, […]
mirror mirror on the water – article helena van praet, routledge
17 December 2025. Today, the article Mirror, Mirror on the Water: Water Imaginaries of and by Women in Contemporary English- and Dutch-Language Poetry by Helena Van Praet was published in the journal Women’s Studies – An interdisciplinary journal, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. ISSN: 0049-7878 (Print) 1547-7045 (Online). In this […]
poetry publication – poëziekrant, ghent, belgium
15 December 2025. Today, the new issue 2025/6 of the literary magazine Poëziekrant, published by Poëziecentrum, Ghent, is released. It features the interview by Frauke Pauwels ‘I engage in conversation with language’ with Swedish poet Ida Börjel, a dossier on ‘Poetry and New Media’, several reviews, and new poems by […]
![article 10 [prismes] (2021) – marathon gaité lyrique, paris, france](https://rozalie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Marie-Ythier-Credit-photo-Costanza-Canali-3-2000x1200-1-768x461.jpg)
article 10 [prismes] (2021) – marathon gaité lyrique, paris, france
On Saturday 13 December 2025 at 19:00 CET, French cellist Marie Ythier performs the solo piece article 10 [prismes] (2021) by Rozalie Hirs during the Marathon! at the Gaité Lyrique, in Paris, France. For its tenth edition, Marathon! stays true to its mission of bringing together repetitive and electronic music […]
contemporary poetry studies and cognition – essay by helena van praet
30 November 2025. Today, the essay Contemporary Poetry Studies and Cognition by Helena Van Praet was published in Cahier voor Literatuurwetenschap Volume 16 (2025), by the Flemish Association for General and Comparative Literature Studies, Ghent University, Belgium. The full article is available here. In her new article, Van Praet writes: […]
rosehart – review aart van der wal, opus klassiek
27 November 2025. Today Opus Klassiek published a wonderful review [in Dutch] by Aart van der Wal of Rosehart, the new album by Rozalie Hirs. Below is its English translation. Aart van der Wal: Rozalie Hirs – Rosehart Last month I wrote about Infinity Stairs – solo and chamber works, […]
![article 10 [prismes], article 7 [ways to climb a mountain] – concertzender](https://rozalie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/251125-Concertzender-RozalieHirs-FrederikRasten-Chiyoko-Slavnics-minimalist-waves.jpg)
article 10 [prismes], article 7 [ways to climb a mountain] – concertzender
On Wednesday, 26 November 2025 at 20:00 CET, Mark van de Voort presents a broadcast on the Concertzender around the theme “microtonal music,” featuring music by Rozalie Hirs, Fredrik Rasten, Donnacha Dennehy, and Chiyoko Szlavnics. Works by Rozalie Hirs include article 10 [prismes] (2021) and article 7 [ways to climb […]
für ein zartes daheim | for a delicate home – installation by anja utler, museum morsbroich, germany
From 23 November 2025, Anja Utler’s installation if I can only say how_there may be a delicate home will be on display at Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen, Germany. The installation includes verses from more than fifty fellow poets, including Rozalie Hirs. Download the brochure here [PDF]. The installation is launched on […]
dagtekening van liefdesvormen – best dutch book designs, stedelijk museum
From 8 November 2025 until 4 January 2026, the exhibition Best Dutch Book Designs is shown at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. Part of the selection and exhibition is Rozalie Hirs’ recent poetry book dagtekening van liefdesvormen (Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Querido, 2024), designed by Michaël Snitker. Each year, the Stedelijk Museum and […]
rosehart (cd, 2025)
On 7 November 2025, the portrait album Rosehart (2025) by Rozalie Hirs is to be released. It consists of recordings of her orchestral works. Listen to the full album on Spotify or other digital platforms.
poet-in-residence, friederike mayröcker-residency, literaturhaus wien
From 3 November to 31 December 2025, Rozalie Hirs (*1965) is the poet-in-residence in Vienna, Austria, as part of the prestigious Friederike Mayröcker Residency Programme. During her residency, she will have the unique opportunity to live and work in the former apartment of the renowned Austrian poet Friederike Mayröcker (1924–2021). […]
article 10 [prismes] (2021) – concertzender radio
On Sunday 2 November 2025, Thea Derks presents a new episode of her programme De Os op het Dak broadcast on the digital radio channel Concertzender. Part of the broadcast today features the composition article 10 [prismes] (2021) by Rozalie Hirs, performed by Marie Ythier (cello). The piece was commissioned […]
come sempre (2025) for soprano and coloratura
Come sempre is a new duo for soprano and coloratura soprano by Rozalie Hirs, commissioned by Susan Narucki and dedicated to its first performers, Susan Narucki (soprano) and Kirsten Ashley Wiest (coloratura soprano). The text is taken from the opening poem of Hirs’ eighth collection, ecologica (Uitgeverij Vleugels, 2023), here sung in the Italian translation by Patrizia Filia, to be published in the Italian edition of ecologica (Nous Editrice, Catania, 2026; forthcoming).
At the heart of come sempre lies the joy of singing — and of singing together. Hirs deliberately writes clear, singable melodic lines that move around broadly conceived, flexible tonal centres, which shift gradually to create a transparent, responsive harmonic landscape. The two voices engage in multiple forms of interaction: dialogue and responsorial exchange, completing each other’s melody or text, shaping a single line together, or moving in parallel melody and functional harmony. Vocal roles alternate throughout, without a fixed hierarchy.
infinity stairs (cd, 2025) – review aart van der wal, opus klassiek
15 October 2025. Today, a wonderful review by Aart van der Wal on Hirs’ album Infinity Stairs (2025) appeared in the Dutch online magazine Opus Klassiek. Read the English translation of the article here: Aart van der Wal: Infinity Stairs In May 2018, Siebe Riedstra discussed a number of works […]
writers meet bob dylan, national theater, the hague, the netherlands
On 2 November 2025, author and poet Kees ’t Hart hosts an afternoon event inspired by the theme Writers Meet Bob Dylan. Writers and poets including Auke Hulst, Kees ’t Hart, and Rozalie Hirs read and perform new poetry written in response to the work of Bob Dylan. Rozalie performs […]
the happy ending – anneke brassinga
On Monday 29 September 2025, at 19:30 CET, The Happy Ending is launched, featuring poems by Anneke Brassinga, read by the poet herself. The publishers are Tsead Bruinja and Zea (a.k.a. Arnold den Boer). The evening includes performances by Ab Baars, Anneke Brassinga, Tsead Bruinja, Terrie Ex doet Woeloem, Jacob […]
![article 5 [delphin, gekrümmte zeit] (2008, rev. 2022) – radio mona lisa, concertzender](https://rozalie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/250914-Patricia-Werner-Leanse.jpg)
article 5 [delphin, gekrümmte zeit] (2008, rev. 2022) – radio mona lisa, concertzender
On 28 September 2025, at 6:00 PM, Patricia Werner Leanse presents the Mona Lisa program on Concertzender. The broadcast features works by Helen Walker (UK, 1963), Sofia Gubaidulina (Russia, 1931–2025), Rozalie Hirs (Netherlands, 1965), Ellie Wilson (UK, 1977), Hildegard von Bingen, Sarah Kirkland Snider (USA, 1973), and Vítězslava Kaprálová (Czech […]
![in a state of [war] (2013) – transpoesie festival, antwerp, belgium](https://rozalie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/250919-Transpoesie-festival-2025-Antwerp-Brussels-768x768.jpeg)
in a state of [war] (2013) – transpoesie festival, antwerp, belgium
18 September 2025. Transpoesie is an annual poetry festival that has been bringing poets from all over Europe to Brussels since 2011. Original poems are presented in the poets’ own languages. This year, for the first time, the festival also comes to Antwerp, at the Letterenhuis. Poets from 16 European […]
infinity stairs (cd, 2025) – vpro vrije geluiden, radio 4
On Sunday 14 September 2025 at 23:00 CET, Anne-Maartje Lemereis (pictured above, photo by Wouter Vellekoop) hosts a new edition of VPRO Vrije Geluiden on NPO Klassiek (Radio 4). This episode features, among other highlights, the portrait album Infinity Stairs (2025) by Rozalie Hirs. More details to follow. Vrije Geluiden […]
infinity stairs (cd, 2025) – concertzender
On Sunday, 14 September 2025, at 18:00 CET, Patricia Werner Leanse presents the program Mona Lisa on Concertzender, featuring works by composers Clara Schumann, Dobrinka Tabakova, and Rozalie Hirs. The program includes the title track from Hirs’ portrait album Infinity Stairs (2025). Enjoy! Date: 2025-09-14 Time: 18:00 CET Location: Radio […]
performance – amor mundi
On Sunday 14 September 2025 at 15:00 CET, poets Yousra Benfquih, Annelie David, Kreek Daey Ouwens, Rozalie Hirs, and Sarah de Koning present the poetry event Amor mundi, with tributes to Friederike Mayröcker (20 December 1924 – 4 June 2021) and Hannah Arendt (14 October 1906 – 4 December 1975). […]
infinity stairs (cd, 2025) – passaggio late night, radio 4
From Monday 8 to Friday 12 September 2025, Rozalie Hirs’ new album Infinity Stairs (2025) is featured as Album of the Week (Hollandse Nieuwe) on Passaggio Late Night, NPO Klassiek (Radio 4), hosted by Lex Bohlmeijer and Pieter van Nes. Each evening, one of the works from the album is […]
elementary particles (2022) – passaggio late night, Radio 4al
On Thursday 11 September 2025, Lex Bohlmeijer reads the poem ‘elementary particles’ (2022) by Rozalie Hirs, selected from her ninth poetry collection dagtekening van liefdesvormen (Querido, 2024), on his radio show Passaggio Late Night (NPO Klassiek), Radio 4, Hilversum, The Netherlands. The photo above shows the tracks of elementary particles, recorded […]
the ferryman (1995) – passaggio late night, radio 4
On Tuesday 9 September 2025, Lex Bohlmeijer reads the poem ‘the ferryman’ (1995) by Rozalie Hirs, selected from her poetry debut collection Locus (Querido, 1998), on the program Passaggio Late Night (NPO Klassiek). That same week, from September 8 to 12, Hirs’ album Infinity Stairs (2025) is featured as Hollandse […]
danaë (1993) – passaggio late night, radio 4
On Monday 8 September 2025 at 22:30 CET, Lex Bohlmeijer reads the poem ‘Danaë’ (1993) by Rozalie Hirs, selected from her debut collection Locus (Querido Publishers, 1998), during his program Passaggio Late Night on NPO Klassiek, Radio 4, Hilversum, The Netherlands. The photo above shows Danaë nude, painted by Titian […]
color, light, space, wind, movement, and something elusive – ★★★★ review joep stapel, nrc
29 August 2025. Today, Joep Stapel published a four-star review in NRC of Rozalie Hirs’ portrait album Infinity Stairs. He writes: “The finely crafted music of composer and poet Rozalie Hirs is color, light, space, wind, movement, and something elusive. This wonderful portrait album features five solo pieces (for cello, […]
window poems, hengelo
From September 1 to 30, 2025, the poetry exhibition Vensterverzen (“Window Verses”) takes place on Anthoniusstraat in Hengelo. The project is an initiative by visual artist and bookmaker Ricardo Liong-a-kong, also known as Bukistan. Poems by eleven different authors are displayed on the windows of eleven houses along the street, […]
the music of rozalie hirs is at once mathematical, colorful, and spiritual – ★★★★ review dennis bajram, volkskrant
28 August 2025. Today Dennis Bajram wrote the four-star review ‘The music of Rozalie Hirs is at once mathematical, colorful, and spiritual’ in the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant. He writes: “There is no one quite like Rozalie Hirs (60) in the Dutch musical landscape. A composer, poet, and chemical engineer, she […]
performance marthe koning – makers’ sessions, de nieuwe vorst, tilburg
On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at 7:30 PM, new up-and-coming creators will present their work during MakersSessies—a collaboration between Makershuis Tilburg and De Nieuwe Vorst. This evening’s featured artists are: Speels Collectief, Marthe Koning (pictured), Annemijn Rijk, and Milou van Duijnhoven & Merel Severs. dagtekening van liefdesvormen | Marthe Koning […]