Sunday 15 October 2023; 15:30. Zuiderkerk, Amsterdam (NL)
Recital Chopin & his Circle of Friendswith pianist Nicolas van Poucke en cutural philosopher Dr. Albert van der Schoot.

Program with Chopin - Polonaise Brillante, Mendelssohn - Sonate in D groot, Liszt - Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth, Franchomme - Nocturne and  Chopin- Cello Sonata.

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Pamela Smits is founder of the concert series Vriendenconcerten and artistic director of Foundation Vriendenconcerten since 2013. See below for Archive previous seasons.

She is the driving force and “heart and soul” of this concert series and invites top musicians who, with their excellence and infectious enthusiasm, create an intimate ambience in which they engage the audience.

Commissioned by the Board of the Foundation Vriendenconcerten, she gives shape to the concert series of nine concerts that takes place at the beautiful 17th century church; the Zuiderkerk in the heart of old Amsterdam. For this season she has invited pianist Nicolas van Poucke as Artist in Residence.

Season 2023-2024
Second concert of this season: 
Date: Sunday 15 October 2023, at 15:30 hrs. 

 
Albert van der Schoot – presentation
Pamela Smits – cello
Nicolas van Poucke – piano
 

A program around Frédéric Chopin and his extraordinarily artistic circle of friends. Pamela, Nicolas, and cultural philosopher Albert van der Schoot will take you on a musical journey into Chopin's life in France, where music, literature, and painting were closely intertwined.

Much of the composer's best work was created during his tumultuous relationship with the French novelist and feminist avant la lettre, George Sand.They spent a winter on vacation in an abandoned monastery on Mallorca, which turned out disastrously. Sand later wrote an autobiographical chapter A winter in Mallorca about this trip in a travel guide. Close friend Eugène Delacroix painted a unique double portrait of the pair. Franz Liszt also had a dramatic vacation in a monastery with his wife and author Marie D'Agoult (pseudonym Daniel Stern), on the island of Nonnenwerth.

Through their mutual friend Franz Liszt, Chopin met an outstanding cellist: Auguste Franchomme. He became Chopin's musical partner and close confidant.In 1846 Chopin asked Delacroix to take the manuscript of his great Cello Sonata to the publisher in Paris. It is Chopin's last published work and last public appearance before his untimely death. The last public performance of the Cello Sonata was naturally with "the good Franchomme," (as Chopin used to call him), who also served as one of the bearers of Chopin's coffin, providing a final service for his dear friend.

ABN AMRO Bank: NL45ABNA053.76.04.693?

Opening Church and Ticketcounter:
30 minutes before the start of a concert
Saturday at 19:30 hrs.
Sunday at 15:00 hrs.

Build in the Dutch renaissance style this beautiful 17th century church is situated between the Waterlooplein and the Nieuwmarkt right in the center of Amsterdam.

Selection of program proposals for recitals in the season 2018/2019:

Download International Flyer
 

Cello Solo:
Heaven and Hell

Cello and Piano with pianist Tobias Borsboom
Love and Death  Romantic program
Bohemian Rhapsody Czech program
Maître et Apprenti  French program with a teacher-pupil line

All-time Favourites Easy-listening romantic cello favourites program
Hungarian Canvas Hungarian cello/piano program, with Kodály cello solo sonata

Cello and Double Bass with double bass player Quirijn van Regteren Altena:
Deep Feelings and Moments Musical 

Considerations concerning other repertoire is open for discussions. 
See also repertoire list..

Or, feel free to send an email to Pamela via info@pamelasmits.com and she will be happy to contact you directly to consider the various ideas.

Pentachord, a row of five strings. Five renowned musicians founded this ensemble sharing a passion for piano quintets and chambermusic.
- Effacta Productions

For bookings or information please contact Effacta Productions:

The Pentachord Ensemble

Maarten den Hengst - piano

Emi Ohi Resnick - violin

Mikhail Zemtsov -viola

Pamela Smits - cello

Quirijn van Regteren Altena - double bass

more info..

Program proposals:

Program Purcell, Arensky, F. Martin or Mahler and Trout
Program Piano quintets of Vaughan Williams and Schubert
Program Duo's and Schubert or Vaughan Williams piano quintet

Program Penta Plus. Mozart and Dvo?ák stringquintets and Mendelssohn pianosextet with Giles Francis violin and viola.

 Download Portfolio hr.-photos of the Pentachord Ensemble

"From the first note of the famous quintet the Pentachord Ensemble overwhelmed with their lightness, precision and very agile way of playing. Schubert escaped from all the clichés. Also is in all their smaller group arrangements The Pentachord a joy to the eye and ear, because of the dedicated music making of the musicians. A sparkling ensemble that left the audience of the museumchurch of Schokland in awe."

-from a review of the Noordoostpolder newspaper.

"The Trout Quintet can be reckoned among the gems of classical music. Of the Dutch music ensembles the Pentachord threads a long chain of gems with their way of playing. Moreover, for the entire ensemble applies that they posses a special musical gift and that they feel intensely connected to their instruments, one can see that, one can hear that." 

-from a review of the Nieuwe Meerbode, Aalsmeer (NL)