Concert Highlights
Highlights of the past are the concerts in Netherlands, among which are those given in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Eindhoven, Groningen and The Hague, and of course the ones abroad, i.e. in Ängelholm and Båstad (Sweden), Copenhagen (Denemarken), Logroño (Spain), Oostende, Antwerpen, Gent en Brussel (Belgium), Jeantes, Bancigny (Frankrijk) Arpino, Tivoli, Rome en Ala (Italië), and in New York and Rhode Island, Providence (USA).
Compositions
Some compositions dedicated to Het CONSORT under the direction of Alex Timmerman:
- 2000: This year saw the creation of Gone with the Wind, a composition by Annette Kruisbrink from Zwolle. The work was written especially for Het CONSORT and made financially possible by the Fund for Creative Music.
- 2001: Belgian composer Marc Matthys wrote the composition Tradition and dedicated it to Het CONSORT.
- 2002: Italian composer Luca Mereu composed Ballando and Paesaggio Arrabo, both written specifically for Het CONSORT.
- 2004: Another composition was the beautiful Concerto per Orchestra a Pizzico by Greek-American composer Victor Kioulaphides.
- 2005: American composer John Craton wrote The Legend of Princess Noccalula for solo mandolin and orchestra, composed for Het CONSORT.
- 2006: Dutch composer Jeff Hijlkema composed Perpetua Melomania II for Het CONSORT.
- 2006: John Craton composed the three-part concerto Rromane Bjavela ("Romani Evenings") for two solo mandolins and orchestra, dedicating it to Marianne Timmerman-Hollander, chairperson and bassist of Het CONSORT.
- 2008: John Craton composed the five-part suite Danseries anciennes for Het CONSORT.
- 2010: On October 16, the premiere of Sinfonia a pizzico took place—a large four-part work by Victor Kioulaphides, dedicated to Het CONSORT.
- 2013: Dutch composer and guitarist Jan Bartlema wrote MANDOLIVE, dedicating it to Alex Timmerman and American conductor Mark Davis, and their respective orchestras: the New American Mandolin Ensemble (NAME) and Het CONSORT.
- 2014: French composer Michel Bosc composed the Concerto Grosso MAGNIFICAT for solo mandolin and orchestra for Het CONSORT.
- 2015: Victor Kioulaphides composed Nordsee Lieder, based on poems by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926). The work was dedicated to countertenor Sytse Buwalda, Alex Timmerman, and the Dutch Mandolin Chamber Orchestra Het CONSORT.
- 2017: French composer Michel Bosc wrote CONCERTO TRIPLARIS for mandolin, liuto cantabile, harp, and mandolin orchestra, specifically for Het CONSORT.
- 2019: Victor Kioulaphides composed SAMOVAR for liuto cantabile (mandoloncello) and mandolin chamber orchestra, dedicating it to Dutch mandolinist Ferdinand Binnendijk (former student of Alex Timmerman and winner of the Princess Christina Competition 2011) and Het CONSORT.
- 2020 and 2022: During this period, John Craton wrote A Silly Jig and Niños Jugando ("Playing Children"), both dedicated to Het CONSORT.
Upcoming premiere
- 2025: A new 20-minute work recently completed is dedicated to renowned Italian concert mandolinist Carlo Aonzo, Alex Timmerman, and Het CONSORT. Titled Concerto OIPA for solo mandolin and mandolin orchestra, it was composed by Italian composer Salvatore Della Vecchia. The premiere is scheduled for concerts in Zwolle and Amsterdam in March/April 2026.
Concert History
HET CONSORT gaat dit concertseizoen naar Italië, naar Amsterdam en…. naar Zwolle-Berkum. Daarnaast gaan ze opnames maken van twee speciaal voor het orkest gecomponeerde werken, namelijk het Dubbelconcert voor twee Mandolines en orkest van de Amerikaanse componist John Craton én het mandoline Concert van de Italiaanse componist Salvatore Della Vecchia. Dit werk zal samen met de Italiaanse mandolinist Carlo Aonzo worden opgenomen!
Op het programma voor 8 december staan werken uit bijna alle tijden en windstreken van o.a. Vivaldi, Stamitz, Händel, Boccherini, Fujikake, en Theodorakis. Solistische medewerking zal worden verleend door de Zwolse musici; de mandolinist Sebastiaan de Grebber en de gitarist Tom Edskes.
Een bijzonder concert om het jaar mee af te sluiten.
Tickets zijn online te bestellen op:

Terschelling



Nederlands:
Optreden van Het CONSORT o.l.v. Alex Timmerman in de Reuland-Gehoorzaal van het ArtEZ Conservatorium te Zwolle (NL) tijdens het 'Kruisbrink 65 Festival', op zaterdag 11 februari, 2023.
Het eerste optreden van Het CONSORT in 2023 zal plaats vinden tijdens 'Het Kruisbrink 65 Festival, 2023' te Zwolle.
Op het programma van het lunchconcert, dat door de gitaristen Serhat Bulut, Jan Bartlema en Het CONSORT verzorgd zal worden, staan ondermeer de composities "Dreamtime" en "Alamanda". Beide werken werden door Annette Kruisbrink respetieflijk in 1997 en 2014 voor Mandoline orkest gecomponeerd. De premiere van "Dreamtime", een compositie waarin de componist de haastige Westerse, aan dromen voorbijgaande, levenstijl verklankt met aan de andere kant de wereld en het hiernamaals zoals die beleeft wordt door de Aboriginals waarin de droom juist centraal staat. De première van "Dreamtime" werd in 1998 door Het CONSORT verzorgd en in 2000 op CD opgenomen. Het tweede werk van Kruisbrink, getiteld "Alamanda" is een compositie voor Gitaar solo en Mandolineorkest.
Het werk is gebaseerd op verschillende frans middeleeuwse liederen en laat, in drie elkaar opvolgende delen vooral de samenspraak tussen de gitaarsolist en het orkest horen.
"Alamanda" werd in 2014 gecomponeerd en zal op het 'Kruisbrink 65 Festival 2023' voor het eerst, uitgevoerd door de gitarist Jan Bartlema en Het CONSORT o.l.v. Alex Timmerman, in Nederland te horen zijn.
Het lunchconcert, tijdens het Kruisbrink 65 Festival, vind plaats op zaterdag 11 februari, om 12.15 uur, in de Reuland-Gehoorzaal van het ArtEZ Conservatorium te Zwolle. Entree: met reservering €12,50. Aan de zaal €15,00. Meer informatie en voor het maken van reserveringen, via deze link: Muzinder - Lunchconcert-Optredens
English:
Performance by Het CONSORT conducted by Alex Timmerman in the Reuland-Gehoorzaal of the ArtEZ Conservatory in Zwolle (NL) during the 'Kruisbrink 65 Festival', on Saturday, February 11, 2023.
The first performance of Het CONSORT in 2023 will take place during 'Het Kruisbrink 65 Festival, 2023' in Zwolle.
The program of the lunch concert, which will be performed by guitarists Serhat Bulut, Jan Bartlema and Het CONSORT, includes the compositions "Dreamtime" and "Alamanda". Both works were composed for mandolin orchestra by Annette Kruisbrink in 1997 and 2014 respectively. The premiere of "Dreamtime", a composition in which the composer gives voice to the hasty Western lifestyle, beyond dreams, with on the other side the world and the afterlife as experienced by the Aborigines in which the dream is central. The premiere of "Dreamtime" was provided by Het CONSORT in 1998 and recorded on CD in 2000. The second work by Kruisbrink, entitled "Alamanda" is a composition for guitar solo and mandolin orchestra.
The work is based on various French medieval songs and, in three successive parts, mainly shows the dialogue between the guitar soloist and the orchestra.
"Alamanda" was composed in 2014 and will be performed for the first time in the Netherlands at the 'Kruisbrink 65 Festival 2023', performed by guitarist Jan Bartlema and Het CONSORT conducted by Alex Timmerman.
The lunch concert, during the Kruisbrink 65 Festival, will take place on Saturday 11 February, at 12.15 pm, in the Reuland-Gehoorzaal of the ArtEZ Conservatory in Zwolle. Entrance: with reservation €12.50. At the door €15.00. More information and to make reservations, via this link: Muzinder - Lunchconcert-Optredens
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It is with great pleasure that we can announce the next concert by HET CONSORT lead by Alex Timmerman and the Castalia Mandoline Quintet. Especially happy to draw your attention to the premiere of the wonderful new Double Concerto for Two Mandolins and Orchestra composed by our dear friend the American composer John Craton! The soloists in this work are the Dutch mandolinists Sebastiaan de Grebber and Ferdinand Binnendijk. Other composers from whom music will be performed by HET CONSORT, are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Japanese composer Hiro Fujikake. The Castalia Mandolin Quintet wil play music by Pujol and Boccherini. You are all very welcome to come and listen on Saturday the 29th of October in the Theodorakapel (Theodorahof 20, 8011 AA), in Zwolle.


EDINBURGH 2017
Edinburgh 2017
The Great Hall, Edinburgh, August 24 2017
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the single biggest celebration of arts and culture on the planet.
"On their first visit to the Fringe, the well-known Dutch Mandolin Chamber Orchestra Het Consort will give two concerts with highlights of their repertoire! Programmed are, amongst others, the famous Concerto by Vivaldi with Sebastiaan de Grebber and Ferdinand Binnendijk as mandolin soloists, the mesmerizing Autumn Song by Kuwahara, sensual Tangos by Piazzolla and virtuoso Spanish music by Albeniz and De Falla! Concerts not to be missed. 'Very good ensemble playing with artistic empathy, well balanced in sound proportion and especially striking in professional control' (Zwolle Courant). 'Ready for the large podia' (Leids Dagblad)."