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Ensemble

 

La Fontegara Amsterdam is a classical music ensemble that specializes in performing music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The ensemble was founded in 1988 by two Dutch musicians, Erik Beijer and Saskia Coolen, who shared a passion for early music and historical performance practices. Erik Beijer, who plays the recorder and the viola da gamba, had previously studied at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and had performed with various early music ensembles in the Netherlands. Saskia Coolen, who plays the recorder and the viola da gamba as well, had also studied at the Sweelinck Conservatory and had performed with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and other renowned ensembles. Together, Beijer and Coolen formed La Fontegara Amsterdam with the aim of exploring the rich repertoire of early music and bringing it to life through historically informed performances. The ensemble takes its name from a famous treatise on music by the Italian composer and theorist Silvestro Ganassi, who wrote extensively about the art of playing the recorder and the viola da gamba. Over the years, La Fontegara Amsterdam has grown to include a core group of musicians who share the founders' commitment to historical authenticity and musical excellence. The current members of the ensemble are Erik Beijer (recorder and viola da gamba), Saskia Coolen (recorder and viola da gamba), Marike Tuin (recorder and viola da gamba), and Heiko ter Schegget (harpsichord and organ). La Fontegara Amsterdam has performed extensively throughout Europe and North America, appearing at major festivals and concert series such as the Utrecht Early Music Festival, the Boston Early Music Festival, and the Tage Alter Musik Regensburg. The ensemble has also collaborated with many distinguished musicians and ensembles, including the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, and the Huelgas Ensemble. One of the highlights of La Fontegara Amsterdam's career was their performance at the 1996 Utrecht Early Music Festival, where they presented a program of music by the Italian composer Giovanni Battista Fontana. The ensemble's virtuosic playing and sensitive interpretation of Fontana's music earned them critical acclaim and established their reputation as one of the leading early music ensembles of their generation. In addition to their live performances, La Fontegara Amsterdam has also recorded extensively, with over a dozen albums to their name. Their recordings have received numerous awards and accolades, including the Diapason d'Or, the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, and the Edison Classical Music Award. La Fontegara Amsterdam's repertoire encompasses a wide range of music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including works by such composers as Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann, Antonio Vivaldi, and Claudio Monteverdi. The ensemble's approach to performance is characterized by a deep understanding of historical performance practices, including the use of period instruments, ornamentation, and improvisation. In addition to their performances and recordings, La Fontegara Amsterdam is also committed to education and outreach. The ensemble regularly gives masterclasses and workshops for students and amateur musicians, sharing their knowledge and expertise in the field of early music.

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