The Billy Joel Experience

Name: The Billy Joel Experience
Start: 2026-03-15T15:00:00
End: 2026-03-15
Location: Nieuwe Kerk Zierikzee

The versatility of Billy Joel’s impressive oeuvre can hardly be overstated. The master has always managed to move through all possible stylistic figures with apparent effortlessness, like a virtuoso. Excursions into Jazz, New Wave, Latin, Prog Rock, Ragtime, Country, Bluegrass, Reggae… the musical explorations of the brilliant songwriter seem endless, and the result is always served in an almost perfect and comfortable pop guise.

But there is, throughout his entire career, one constant factor in the music of the Piano Man: the classical influence.

Bandleader Alexander Broussard of The Billy Joel Experien…

But there is, throughout his entire career, one constant factor in the music of the Piano Man: the classical influence.

Bandleader Alexander Broussard of The Billy Joel Experience saw a challenge in this for his fifth theatre season. The idea arose to make the duality within Joel's work between pop and classical visible by placing the band opposite a string quartet. Naturally, the intention was to gradually arrive at the conclusion during the performance that the one cannot exist without the other. For this, Broussard naturally had to find the right string quartet that not only flawlessly possesses the classical ‘touch’ but also truly understands the rocker undeniably present in Billy Joel.

In the German group 'La Finesse,' Alexander found the ideal embodiment for his idea. The international collaboration led to a show of international allure, where styles meet, conflict with, and embrace each other. This combination makes 'Nocturne' a show that manages to bring together the poetry of the night and the timeless music of grandmaster Billy Joel.