Sunday 3 November 2024; 15:30. Zuiderkerk, Amsterdam (NL)
Concert together with pianist Tobias Borsboom and speaker/author Jan Brokken. 

Program Dushi Kòrsou with muziek by Frederic Chopin, Jacobo Palm, Jan Gerard Palm, Jules Blasini, Jacobo Conrad and Wim Statius Muller.

Read more..

Pamela Smits is the founder, and since 2013 Artistic Director, of the Foundation Vriendenconcerten. She is the driving force and “heart and soul” of this concert series that takes place at the beautiful 17th century church; the Zuiderkerk in the heart of old Amsterdam. 

Commissioned by the Board of the Foundation Vriendenconcerten, she gives shape to the concert series of nine concerts and invites top musicians who, with their excellence and infectious enthusiasm, create an intimate ambience in which they engage the audience. 

A common thread running through the series  this season is the celebration of 750 years of Amsterdam’s existence.

Season 2024-2025

Second and upcoming concert of this season: 
Date: Sunday 3 November 2024, at 15:30 hrs. 

Jan Brokken – speaker/author
Pamela Smits – cello
Tobias Borsboom – piano

On Curaçao it was customary to compose waltzes for festivities and funerals, but also simply as a gift. Chopin's music found its way to the island during the 19th century and influenced the composers of Curaçao: Jan Gerard Palm, the patriarch of Curaçao's classical salon music; Jules Blasini, who was the only Antillean to study at the conservatory in Paris; and Jacobo Conrad who brought ear-tickling serenades with his violin outside many bedroom windows on Curaçao! And of course, the inimitable composer and pianist Wim Statius Muller!

Wim Statius Muller was leading a double life. In daytime he worked undercover as a spy for the secret service, but at night he composed the most exquisite dances. It earned him the nickname “Curaçaoan Chopin.”

Award-winning author and storyteller par excellence Jan Brokken (recipient of the Gouden Ganzeveer 2023; a Dutch cultural award given to a person or organization of great significance to the written and printed word.) lived in the Antilles for 10 years and researched the origins of music in the Antilles. He has captured these findings in his book Why eleven Antilleans knelt before Chopin's heart.

The voice of a “Divine storyteller” (Volkskrant newspaper), “Two poets of the keys and strings” (Westdeutsche Zeitung) and infectious rhythms of tumbas, mazurkas and sultry waltzes. What more could you wish for on a wintry Sunday afternoon?

Download brochure

 

Stichting Vriendenconcerten (Foundation Vriendenconcerten)

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)