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Alex Klaasen won the 2023 Annie MG Schmidt Award for his song “152W96TH street” from his stage show No ponies. The music was written by Peter van de Witte.
The award was presented during the Amsterdam Kleinkunst Festival by the Chairman of the Jury, Jurjan van Dongen. Klaasen was also the winner of the Annie MG Schmidt Award in 2019 with the song “Gewoon re” with Van de Witte as composer and Van Dongen as lyricist.
The jury praised Claassen for the courage with which he and Van de Witte pushed the limits of what Dutch theatrical song could be. “They're creating a little musical that goes off the rails, which not only takes place all over Broadway, but also flirts with composers like Stephen Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown. The musical cleverly designs an experience that goes off in all directions.”
According to the jury, the explanation was unparalleled. “His voice is full of the desire to live, then dull with misery, then sad again. Timing each sentence as if a panic attack is happening right now. Unforgiving honesty and just-right detail in a form that fits like a glove makes this deeply personal experience a work of art.” Globally.
Other nominated songs are “Sterilization” by Pieter van Rooijen, “The Right Way” by Lintel and de Boer, “How to Tell My Mum” by Elin Ten Dam and Elijah Leonhard Pfeiffer, “Tata” by Kiki Schippers, and “Two Duets” by Peer Wittenpols, Stanislav Mitrović and Joost Spijkers .
Alex Claassen and Pieter van de Witte received a bust designed by artist Frank Rosen and a cash prize of €3,500.
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The six nominees for their song
Last year Flip Norman was the winner with “They Know Who You Are.” Previous winners include Joost Spijkers, Wintel and de Boer, Jan Boving, Brigitte Candorp, Jeroen van Meerwijk, Theo Nijland, Maarten van Roosendaal and Kiki Schippers.
