Wittgenstein Project

The Wittgenstein Project is a collaboration between five very fine musicians from The Netherlands. Together we are set to bring all the gorgeous chamber music that was written for Paul Wittgenstein. It’s not only the music we are after, but also the fascinating story behind the genesis of this music. We want to tell our audiences about this utterly special one-armed man Wittgenstein, in music, words and images.

Folke Nauta, piano left hand

Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer, clarinet

Prisma String Trio; Janneke van Prooijen, violin / Elisabeth Smalt, viola / Michiel Weidner, cello

Latest news about the Wittgenstein Project at prismatrio.nl (Dutch and English)

Pianist Folke Nauta graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, receiving a 10 with distinction. Folke is acclaimed by the press and public alike for his natural and concentrated style playing. As a soloist he has performed in all the major Dutch concert halls and in countries including Norway, England, Germany and France. He has made diverse CD recordings and won national and international awards. After his right hand was affected by a neurological complaint, he turned his focus towards tracing and performing left hand repertoire including solo piano and chamber music works. 

Dutch clarinetist Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer won a Fulbright scholarship to study with Charles Neidich at the Juilliard School in New York. After winning several first prizes at international competitions, he made his succesful debut in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in 1999. Since then he has given many solo and chamber music performances in major venues around the world with leading orchestras and ensembles. In 2003 his debut CD was awarded an Edison. Other CD’s followed with music by MacMillan, Mamlok, Hindemith, Brahms, and Reger. These recordings recieved outstanding reviews by the international music press. 

Prisma interprets seven centuries of string trio music at the highest level. Virtuosic, passionate and style conscious, the trio combines the tight-knit ensemble playing of a string quartet with the flair of three refined musicians perfectly attuned to each other. The trio is known for its innovative programmes: firmly anchored in the classical string tradition, it performs music from all corners of the world and from all periods. Quality, inspiration and contact with the audience are its hallmarks. Since its foundation in 2002, the trio has championed unknown music of high quality, alongside celebrated works. It steers clear of artificial borders between stylistic periods and genres and constantly seeks to build fresh rapport with audiences. 

Prisma performs at numerous venues at home and abroad, including the Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam, De Doelen and Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ. It is a welcome guest at Dutch festivals such as the Grachtenfestival, Wonderfeel and November Music, and also makes radio and TV appearances. Prisma’s first album Voyage was given a rating of 10 in Luister music magazine and its album La Muse received the Album of the Year 2021 award from NativeDSD, a worldwide platform for high-quality releases.