Rick Stotijn, Bram van Sambeek & Hans Eijsackers

Two low instruments at a rare height: double bassist Rick Stotijn and bassoonist Bram van Sambeek. Both gloriously won the important Dutch Music Prize. 'A versatile musician with an eventful musicality and overwhelming virtuosity,' the jury judged Rick. 'I think he is capable of falling in love with many aspects of music and he does not set himself too many limits,' said conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin regarding Bram. They present a programme with a lot of variety, accompanied by their regular pianist Hans Eijsckers.

Nestled still deep in Romanticism is Robert Schumann: his Adagio and Allegro now on double bass. Tchaikovsky composed his beloved The Four Seasons in the late 19th century. It was commissioned by a magazine; his servant always had to remind him at the last minute that a new month was approaching and he had to deliver. Giovanni Bottesini was the most famous double bass player of the 19th century. His music demands the utmost from the performer. Piazzolla's 'nuevo tango' mixes traditional tango with Stravinsky, with Bartók, with Bach, with jazz; among classical musicians he is now also highly regarded. Led Zeppelin, then, is a charming side-step to rock for a while.

Bram van Sambeek

Hans Eijsackers