​Superhuman control

​Based in The Hague, percussionist Konstantyn Napolov is dedicated to new music and works with leading composers. He prefers to fill the stage with a wide variety of instruments. He does the same in the Paleiskerk. In Droplets by Christiaan Richter he plays a large arsenal of objects, gongs and instruments from Chinese opera. In four movements, the rhythmic processes of nature, such as falling raindrops, sound in a counterpoint of different rhythms. It takes superhuman mastery to combine these wildly complex patterns. This is what Napolov excels at. You can’t help but listen breathlessly.   

​On other instruments he plays nature-inspired solo pieces by Louis Andriessen, John Psathas, Tansy Davies, Mark Glentworth and Nicolas Martynciow. For Eva by Remy Alexander, artist Rob van den Broek built a new percussion instrument.