Concert Her Majesty the Viol. Een reis door de tijd en plaatsen van de Viola da Gamba”

Her Majesty the Viol

A journey through the time and places of the Viola da Gamba

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 8:00 PM

Keizersgrachtkerk, Keizersgracht 566, Amsterdam

Featuring Amalia Ottone, Margo Fontijne, and Marco Ottone, this concert showcases talented musicians performing on soprano, tenor, and bass viols. The program offers a musical journey across five European countries and three centuries, from the 16th to the 18th century.

Since the Renaissance, the viola da gamba has been revered as one of the most refined instruments of European royal courts and noble houses, admired for its ability to mimic the human voice and its deep, resonant sound. The concert explores the instrument’s Italian origins and its evolution through England, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, highlighting each region’s unique cultural and musical contributions.

The repertoire includes works by Ortiz, Coperario, Ruffo, Schenck, Abel, Forqueray, Marais, and Sainte-Colombe—composers who shaped the instrument’s legacy in European aristocratic circles. The program also pays special tribute to the French court of Louis XIV, where the viola da gamba flourished as a favored instrument of the Sun King’s court.

Set in the evocative ambiance of the Keizersgrachtkerk, “Her Majesty the Viol” promises an immersive experience in the history and beauty of over three centuries of music.

Free admission with online reservation.