When the Groot Omroepkoorʼs (Netherlandʼs Radio Choir) Chief Conductor Benjamin Goodson and Stiftfestivalsʼ violinist-director Daniel Rowland approached me to write a piece for them, I immediately googled Dutch poets. I was intrigued to find the French-sounding name, Isabelle de Charrire (1740 1805). Also known as Belle van Zuylen, she was born and brought up in Utrecht, where the premiere of this new composition would take place.

In the 18th century, it was common for well-to-do families to...