‘God knew everything, except whether he actually existed.’ Sometimes he is a hermit; at other times he is arrested for misbehaviour or turns out to be an exceptionally good ballet dancer. He wears a thick winter coat even in summer, and he often wonders whether people really love him. Does he actually believe in himself? Once he ends up inside someone’s head, he is caught committing adultery and he is occasionally unreasonable and malicious, but also loving and insecure. He looks suspiciously like a human being, yet he is always God.

In God onder de mensen, writer Toon Tellegen and the Wisselend Toonkwintet, led by guitarist Corrie van Binsbergen, bring together music, literature and philosophy in an atmosphere that shifts between melancholy and longing, absurd reasoning and festive adventure. The ensemble rarely performs anymore and has played this programme only once before. The concert closes with a selection of their animal stories.

‘I don’t know what it is, I’m not a musician, but the music Corrie makes for it always feels right.’ (Toon Tellegen in de Volkskrant)

Toon Tellegen narrator, Joost Buis trombone/lap steel, Corrie van Binsbergen guitar, Albert van Veenendaal piano, Hein Offermans bass, Alan Purves percussion