The Ricciotti ensemble consists of 43 music students and talented amateurs between 18 and 30 years old. Conductor and artistic director Coen Stuit leads the ensemble. Normally there are three tours every year, one of which takes place abroad. With all three tours combined, we are able to reach 20.000 people per year. The unique concept of our orchestra inspired musicians abroad to found three ensembles in the spirit of the Ricciotti: Street Orchestra Live in London, Nevis Ensemble in Glasgow and also in São Paulo, Brazil, an ensemble is forming.
Vision
In a polarising world in which people live past each other, differences become more visible. The Ricciotti believes music can bring people together through the deep communication that it establishes. Our ambition for the next couple of years is to enable our orchestra members to be actors in a changing society that holds a place for everyone.
Signature
An open atmosphere and a high musical level characterizes a Ricciotti performance. The program of every performance consists of short pieces in many different genres: classical, pop, jazz and ‘world music’. The orchestra members announce every played piece in an accessible and often funny way. Extra special are the performances we call ‘Wild op!’. They are short spontaneous and unannounced performances in the public space.
Talent development
Through ‘learning by doing’ we try to enable our orchestra members to learn skills that are complementary to the things they can learn at the conservatory or other schooling. After their time in the Ricciotti they feel more involved with society.
Each tour starts with an intensive period of rehearsals. Coen studies an average of 25 compositions for tour. Professional répétiteurs support him by taking over parts of the rehearsals. Also the musicians get the chance to get experience at playing solo, either improvising or playing from a score and to get the feel of playing on a stage.
Talent development of the audience
The orchestra members also play a role in developing the talents of the audience. The audience can always participate at a performance. There’s the famous guest conductor piece (a tradition we started ages before television shows like Maestro!) that always ensures an empowering experience for the guest conductor from the audience, and it also provides a comical break in the performance. We also encourage the audience to sing along or clap during certain compositions, and often they can touch and try out instruments after the performance. Orchestra members regularly give workshops before or after a performance.
Composition module
New compositions and arrangements are a major part of the Ricciotti repertoire. Some of the premieres come to be through a module in cooperation with the composition classes of the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, CODARTS Conservatory in Rotterdam and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. During the preparations of a tour, the students put an outline of a piece on our music stands. After feedback from the Ricciotti and its artistic staff, the completed version will be played in the next tour.
This module has already proven to be a welcome supplement to the regular composition classes. Students get the chance to write for a complete orchestra and to experiment freely with sounds, orchestration and the (im)possibilities of the individual instruments. The Ricciotti musicians learn about how a composition comes to be and they have the unique opportunity to get involved in composing the piece by asking questions and giving suggestions.
Participants
Fall 2015
(Outlines, played during the spring tour of 2016)
Celia Swart (from the Royal Conservatory in the Hague ) new piece
Miguel Santaella ( CADARTS) new piece
Spring 2015
(Outlines, played in the summer tour of 2015)
Aftab Darvishi (from the Royal Conservatory in the Hague) Toranj
Ivo Paunov ( CODARTS) Miniatuur
Fall 2014
(Outlines, played in the spring tour of 2015)
Jan-Peter de Graaff (from the Royal Conservatory in the Hague) Rotondes
Simone Botasso (CODARTS) Mediamarkt
Spring 2014
( Outlines, played in the summer tour of 2014)
David Awotwi (from the Royal Conservatory in the Hague ) Entarte to Charter
Efthymios Stavropoulos (CODARTS) Sweet Anger
Winter 2013-2014
(Outlines, played in the winter tour of 2013-2014)
Hinse Mutter (CODARTS) Piece for orchestra
Joao Artur Moreira (CODARTS) Structures
Celia Swart
The Hall of Fame is a brand new project that will map the enduring power of the Ricciotti and offers advantages for those ex-members that still propagate the Ricciotti philosophy. To start it off, the following people/ couples/groups will share with you where they are now and what they still practice from their experiences with the Ricciotti.
The Hall of Fame will be extended in the near future. All suggestions and ideas are welcome. Share them with us at info@ricciotti.nl
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