THE CREA ORCHESTRA (Netherlands)
Conductor: Bas Pollard
Helena Koonings, soprano
Programme:
Johan Wagenaar (1862–1941), Saul and David, symphonic poem, Op. 24
Richard Strauss (1864–1949), Four Last Songs, for soprano and orchestra, Op. posth.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), Symphony No. 7 in A-major, Op. 92
The CREA Orchestra is the student orchestra of the CREA Foundation, the cultural organization of the University of Amsterdam. It combines a high level of music making with accessibility and passion for classical music. The orchestra once started as a chamber music ensemble but in the meantime has grown into a full-symphony performing organism with 75 permanent members, the conservatory students and the beginning amateurs sitting next to each other. A large part of members are studying at the University of Amsterdam. Another part has already graduated for years, but does not want to leave the orchestra yet. Another group comes from outside and studies at another schools or works.
The orchestra’s repertoire covers the whole symphonic spectrum, with a variety of works, from famous symphonies to lesser known compositions, from long pieces to miniatures, from romantic classics to impressionist and modern compositions. In recent years, great symphonies have come along such as the 9th of Dvořák, the 8th of Bruckner, the 7th of Shostakovich, the 6th of Tchaikovsky, the 5th of Sibelius, the 4th of Nielsen and the 3rd of Mahler. In addition, the orchestra has played contemporary pieces by John Adams or Peteris Vasks (among others), and large-scale works such as the opera Don Quixote by Jules Massenet (2005).
In 2013, the orchestra celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of conductor Bas Pollard with the CREA Orchestra. Together they played an impressive programme of slavic masterpieces for an almost sold out Main Hall of the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The orchestra regularly goes on a tour abroad. In recent years, the CREA Orchestra performed in Prague and Vienna (2016), in Paris (Église de La Madeleine, 2012), Florence (2011), Slovenia (2009) and Latvia (2007).
Free admission.
