KleuterSinfonietta

KleuterSinfonietta is a co-production of Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, which was initiated in 2004. During the initial experimental phase the project was presented in the Choir Hall of the Concertgebouw. In 2005-2006 this project was offered for the first time to a limited number of primary schools; the following season this was repeated on a larger scale with resounding success. Next season KleuterSinfonietta will once again be presented at schools as well as in the Concertgebouw.

‘Kom, we gaan spelen!’ [Come on, let’s play!] is the title of our new KleuterSinfonietta production. Two violins, two violas, a cello and a double bass are eagerly waiting to reveal the most appealing music for strings to children between the ages of four and six. Come and listen, and bring your parents with you! The six musicians from Amsterdam Sinfonietta love to play, just like children. Hide- and-seek or tag, who is the biggest, who is the fastest? They bow and pluck their instruments to their hearts’ content, sometimes in pairs or in trios, then all together. Now copy what I do, or shall I copy you? What do your dreams sound like in the night, and what happens if you wake up? Often the musicians ask the children to help them, to join in their movements, to sing or clap. And who...dares to pluck the string of that huge double bass? There is music by Haydn, Rossini, Bartók, Sibelius, Telemann and many others. Come on, let’s play! We’ll have plenty of fun today!

concert dates
Amsterdam, Concertgebouw
– 29 and 30 October, 11.30 am, 1.30
and 3.30 pm
– 21 and 22 January, 11.30 am, 1.30
and 3.30 pm
– 21 and 22 April, 11.30 am, 1.30
and 3.30 pm
– 2 and 3 June, 11.30 am, 1.30
and 3.30 pm

musicians
Nicoline van Santen violin
Petra Griffioen violin
Inki Varga violin/viola
Els Goossens viola
Michiel Weidner cello
Koenraad Hofman double bass (performances in October 2011 and June 2012)
Servaas Jessen double bass (performances in January and April 2012)
Bart Oomen director

Amsterdam Sinfonietta is a co-production of Amsterdam Sinfonietta and Het Concertgebouw.

To order tickets:
0900 671 83 45 (€1,- per conversation) / www.concertgebouw.nl

What is KleuterSinfonietta all about?
30 - 40 infants (4-6 years old) and their parents or teachers make the acquaintance of musicians from Amsterdam Sinfonietta, together with their instruments and their music, in a varied programme of fifty minutes duration.
Musical games, questions and answers, singing, movement and dance and, naturally, music performed on stringed instruments are the ingredients. A simple story functions as the binding element. The children are challenged to observe and discover, to participate, to move and above all to listen. In addition, smaller groups are formed around each musician to put together a short musical ‘story’. The parents or teachers are also actively involved. Amsterdam Sinfonietta’s own wide-ranging musical repertoire always provides the point of departure. During the first four KleuterSinfonietta mornings it became evident to us that this music also has plenty to offer to young children. They participated with enthusiasm and there was plenty of room not only for action, but also for wonder and amazement. And the children listened to the music with rapt attention. The main objective of Amsterdam Sinfonietta and The Concertgebouw is to give young children the opportunity to encounter ‘serious’ art music of high quality in an interactive manner, resulting in a positive and personal musical experience.