Ricciotti ensemble
With the motto 'everywhere and for everyone,' the Ricciotti ensemble has been performing live symphonic music at home and abroad for more than fifty years. The 43-member orchestra, consisting of young musicians aged between eighteen and thirty, brings a vibrant collection of music to as many people as possible who usually have little or no exposure to it.
Everywhere and for everyone
For the Ricciotti ensemble, music is for everyone. Since 1970, we have been bringing music to people, wherever they may be at that moment. For example, at home, at work, or in their leisure time, throughout the country. We believe that symphonic music should be heard everywhere and that everyone should have the opportunity to hear, see, and feel the power of a live orchestra.
This way of thinking ensures that we perform in almost every imaginable location. For instance, we perform on the street, but we also hold about half of our performances at social institutions such as refugee centers, nursing and care homes, prisons, and (special) schools. Each year, we reach around 15,000 people with our music. Our mission to bring music to everyone has also led to new initiatives abroad.
Street Symphony Orchestra
Three times a year, the Ricciotti goes on tour, with one of those tours taking place abroad. Each tour is centered around a specific theme, based on which the music and soloist are chosen. The music we perform is as diverse as the locations where we play: one moment we might play a work by Beethoven, the next a song by the Beatles, and with the same energy, we might perform a swinging jazz standard. Additionally, some pieces are specially written for us by both more experienced composers and composition students from various Dutch conservatories. This way, we ensure there is something for everyone to hear, while also introducing our audience to music they may have never heard before.
With the Ricciotti, we do many things just a little differently from what people expect from a symphony orchestra. We shape our performances in our own way, hoping that everyone in the audience feels welcome and seen. For instance, there is a guest conductor piece where someone from the audience gets to conduct the orchestra, there are often opportunities to try out instruments after performances, and sometimes we even create a new piece of music together with the audience. Moreover, the musicians who play in Ricciotti have the chance to develop musically, socially, and creatively in many ways. For instance, orchestra members announce the performances themselves and have the opportunity to contribute ideas about the repertoire for a tour.
