Meesterlijk!: Mathieu van Bellen, Maria Milstein & New European Ensemble

When putting together his residency, one thing was for certain for violinist Mathieu van Bellen: the violin concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach had to be in his programme.

“What violin player did not grow up with the Bach concertos? And yet, one does not play them very often. It’s the major romantic violin concertos that you get to play more frequently. Whether it’s Beethoven, or Tchaikovsky. But even if those works are longer and need a larger orchestra, it’s great to play Bach’s violin concertos. Intimate and genius.”

Mathieu invited the New European Ensemble to accompany his concerts. They are an international group of passionate young top of the bill musicians. The ensemble combines renewing modern day composers with the modern classics, adopting the Bach-theme in its very own way. In addition to the violin concertos they will also perform Gubaidulina’s ‘Reflections on the theme B-A-C-H’ and ‘Preludes & Fugues’ by Sjostakovitsj. Violinist Maria Milstein is Mathieu’s partner in Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins.

In the Meesterlijk!-series, musicians are invited to play in unique combinations. Here, young musicians, among whom the nominees for the GrachtenfestivalPrijs, will perform with musical friends and seasoned masters of the trade. Four unique concerts at a magnificent venue: the Wintertuin of the Hotel Krasnapolsky. Truly masterly, or in Dutch: ‘Meesterlijk!’