Holland Baroque is an original and innovative Baroque orchestra. The musicians let their instruments sing, dance, cry, and laugh and use tradition, innovation, surprise, and a dash of entertainment in their work. Since they began in 2006, Holland Baroque has worked with many soloists, composers, choirs and theatre producers.
Encounters with soloists often result in warm friendships and unlock new worlds of sound. The easy blend of Eric Vloeimans’ velvety sound with the cornetto shows us that Baroque is now. This trumpet whisperer and Holland Baroque were awarded an Edison for their album Carrousel. Touring with piano virtuoso Leszek Możdżer proved that in a baroque orchestra as well the score can keep changing when the composer is improvising among the musicians. Cellist Giovanni Sollima has composed works for Holland Baroque. He could not have written something more Neapolitan: again, a tribute to the past and at the same time as fresh as a daisy. Holland Baroque and Reinbert de Leeuw became close friends during their quest for his truth behind Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Cherry Duyns made a documentary about this process, which was shown in cinemas for months. Bach in the cinema: a unique event.
Tineke and Judith Steenbrink are since 2009 the artistic team and beating heart of the ensemble. These baroque twins guard the ensemble’s sound, create original programmes, and rewrite repertoire according to Holland Baroque’s style. After years of musical encounters it is crystal clear to us: baroque can be found in many places. Baroque is now.