Close-up Concertgebouw Orchestra: America 250

America 250

The American Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago on 4 July; with its emphasis on freedom and equality, it became a model for many other young democracies. We are marking this occasion with music from the United States. Musicians from the Concertgebouw Orchestra perform two early works by well-known American composers, Samuel Barber’s romantic First String Quartet, featuring that world-famous Adagio, and Leonard Bernstein’s delightfully bold Clarinet Sonata. They will also play music by Caroline Shaw, who was The Concertgebouw’s composer in residence in the 2024-25 season, and a spectacular work by Steve Reich, in which principal clarinet Olivier Patey will enter into a dialogue with

eleven recorded clarinets. Wijnand van Klaveren has arranged George Gershwin’s delightful An American in Paris for six musicians from the orchestra.

Close-up

Musicians of the Concertgebouw Orchestra perform their own programmes in the Recital Hall as part of the Close-up chamber music series. Each of these concerts is unique and performed only once as part of the series. It’s the very best way to experience the individual qualities of the orchestral musicians! These intimate concerts are organised by the Friends of the Concertgebouw and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.