Through the looking glass: Amsterdam Sinfonietta are a class act

Candida Thompson and Hülya Keser

Martina Batič, Nederlands Kamerkoor and Amsterdam Sinfonietta

Candida Thompson and Martina Batič

By Clare Varney, 14 May 2023

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“allowed the music to continue seamlessly, almost like a stream of consciousness”

Reviewed at Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ: Main Hall, Amsterdam on 12 May 2023

Pärt, Spiegel im Spiegel

Tallis, Tunes for Archbishop Parker's psalter

Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Tormis, Raue Needmine (Curse upon Iron)

Vasks, Plainscapes

Sumera, Concerto per voci e strumenti

Pärt, Spiegel im Spiegel

Amsterdam Sinfonietta

Candida Thompson, Leader, Violin

Nederlands Kamerkoor

Martina Batič, Conductor

Tim Posner, Cello

Hülya Keser, Piano

Thomas Oliemans in heartfelt chansons at the Concertgebouw

Jenny Camilleri, 7th July

Baritone and pianist Thomas Oliemans demonstrated his love of the French chanson accompanied by the richly layered strings of the Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

****1

Serenade and sorrow from Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Arcayürek and Klieser

Mark Thomas, 25th March

The impressive Amsterdam Sinfonietta showed lucidity and depth in Britten and Shostakovich, with tenor Ilker Arcayürek and horn player Felix Klieser adding much to the quality.

****1

Rana brings energy and clarity to Bach in Amsterdam

Michael Roddy, 6th April

Ominous Bartók, polished Mozart and energetic Bach, all on a superb musical spring evening in Amsterdam.

****1

Playful light and colour from Amsterdam Sinfonietta

Jane Shuttleworth, 5th June

Imaginative Bach and an exciting new work by Dobrinka Tabakova played by the Amsterdam Sinfonietta with pianists Ferhan and Ferzan Önder.

***11

Brautigam premieres Beamish’s new Piano Concerto

David Pinedo, 11th March

For the silver jubilee of Ronald Brautigam’s history with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Sally Beamish composed a new piano concerto. Haydn, Mozart, and Elgar complemented the programme.

***11

Magnificent 12 hour Prom closes a reinvigorated Holland Festival

David Pinedo, 20th June

Ruth Mackenzie, Holland Festival’s vivacious and invigorating new director, closed her first edition with a twelve hour Prom, reinventing it as a mini-festival at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

*****

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Clare Varney

Clare is a freelance writer and music critic from the UK, currently living in the Netherlands where she writes about Music, Food and Culture. Clare is a passionate musician, having learnt the violin and piano from an early age. When not at her laptop writing, she spends her time nurturing the next generation of brass players, all from her Dutch kitchen in the sky. Read more at The Spidy Editor.

Through the looking glass: Amsterdam Sinfonietta are a class act at the Muziekgebouw