Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra (AAO) (Dutch: Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest) is a Dutch orchestra specialising in Arabo-Andalusian music. It was founded in 2011 by a group of friends in Amsterdam, with the aim of sharing the musical heritage of Al-Andalus. The AAO has also blended Arabo-Andalusian music with other genres, such as classical Arabic music, jazz and flamenco.

History

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra, established in 2011, seeks to bridge musical traditions originating in historical Al-Andalus and still today performed in the Maghreb countries with contemporary cultural life, interpreting this music in the Netherlands, while blending it with storytelling, poetry, and theatrical performance.[1]

The AAO has performed in concerts with international artists and companies including Estrella Morente, Sami Yusuf, Cappella Amsterdam, Nabyla Maan, Nai Barghouti, Naaz, Ghalia Benali, Karima el Filali, Najat Rajoui, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra[2][3] and the Metropole Orkest.[4][5][6] In October 2024, they performed a concert dedicated to the music of Arab music icon Umm Kulthum.[7] They also played at festivals and venues such as the Holland Festival,[8] [9] Le Guess Who?,[10] TivoliVredenburg[11] and Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. On Dutch TV, they also made appearances at Podium Klassiek, Vrije Geluiden and On Stage.[12][13] Sometimes adding other instruments, the AAO usually comprises the following line-up: violin, viola, oud, qanun, ney, rabab, string bass, percussion.[14][15]

The AAO has also been active in the theatre: they worked with theatre and dance companies including ICK Dans Amsterdam, Orkater and Jeugdtheater de Krakeling.[16][17] Together with the Meervaart theatre, the AAO has been organising the biennial Ud Festival.[18][19][20]

Awards and recognitions

In 2024 the AAO won the Dutch Cultuurfonds Prize.[21]

Selected performances and productions

  • Abir El Abed & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest: Chaabi Andalusi (2016)[22]
  • ICK Dans Amsterdam & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - Ziel/Rouh (2018)
  • Karima el Filali & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - A tribute to Oum Kalthoum (2020)[23]
  • Wat we doen, Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest, George & Eran Producties and ICK Amsterdam - Hoe Ik Talent Voor Het Leven Kreeg (2020, based on a book by Rodaan Al Galidi)[24]
  • George and Eran Producties with Senf Theaterpartners, Theater de Meervaart & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orchestra - Jihad of Love (2020, based on a book by David van Reybrouck)[25]
  • Redouan Ait Chitt, Denden Karadeniz & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - REMLA (2022)
  • Sanaa Marahati featuring Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest (2022)
  • Sami Yusuf, Cappella Amsterdam & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - When Paths Meet (Holland Festival, 2022)
  • Estrella Morente & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest (Le Guess Who?, 2022)
  • Cappella Amsterdam & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - Cantigas - Verhalen uit Al-Andalus (2023)[26]
  • Nai Barghouti ft. Metropole Orkest & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest (2023)
  • Naaz ft. Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest & Concertgebouw Orchestra (2024)
  • Orkater with Theater De Meervaart and the Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - Café 749 (2024)[27]
  • Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest with Arion de Munck - Hadra Immersive (2024)[28]

Discography

  • Abir El Abed & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - Andalusian Echoes (2017)
  • Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - Ziel | Rouh (2018)
  • Salah Eddine Mesbah & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - Mystic Mirrors (2020)
  • Sami Yusuf, Cappella Amsterdam & Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - When Paths Meet - Live at the Holland Festival (2023)
  • Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest - Andalusian Currents (2024)

Reception

Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool wrote about one of their performance: "The musicians effortlessly tap into diverse registers. Classical Arabic vocals, funk, smooth jazz: this ensemble can play it all."[29] De Volkskrant included their progamme Jihad of Love in its list of 10 best theatre performances of the 2019-2020 season, and called Estrella Morente's concert with the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra "one of the most spectacular shows" of Le Guess Who? festival in 2022.[30][31]

References

  1. ^ "What is the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra? - Cappella Amsterdam". www.cappellaamsterdam.nl. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Festival Turning East groot succes". concertgebouw.nl. 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Fatiha + Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest". muziekgebouw.nl. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Nabyla Maan ft Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest". tivolivredenburg.nl. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Nai Barghouti ft Metropole Orkest". tivolivredenburg.nl. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Music Bowl: Naaz + musici uit Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest & Concertgebouworkest". concertgebouw.nl. 23 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  7. ^ "The voice of the revolution — Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest + Najat Rajoui". www.muziekgebouw.nl. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest – Holland Festival". www.hollandfestival.nl. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Holland Festival 2022: concerten van Sami Yusuf en Angélique Kidjo". nporadio4.nl. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  10. ^ Robert van Gijssel & Gijsbert Kamer (14 November 2022). "Vier dagen Le Guess Who is een muzikale wereldreis gelardeerd met pure wonderen". de Volkskrant.
  11. ^ "Sanaa Marahati ft Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest". tivolivredenburg.nl. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest". vpro.nl. 24 October 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Naaz in On Stage". vpro.nl. 6 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  14. ^ "TURNING EAST: ABIR EL ABED & AMSTERDAMS ANDALUSISCH ORKEST". preludium.nl. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Andalusian Echoes". musicframes.nl. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  16. ^ "ENERGIEK DANSCONCERT MET KLASSIEKE ANDALUSISCHE MUZIEK". theaterkrant.nl. 17 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  17. ^ "BIJZONDERE REIS VAN EEN LIEF EN ONTWAPENEND OLIFANTJE". theaterkrant.nl. 12 December 2022. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Home - UD Festival". www.udfestival.nl. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  19. ^ Miroula, Gina (25 October 2024). "Vijfde editie Ud Festival: 'Het is niet zomaar een instrument, maar echt de baas'". Het Parool. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  20. ^ Galema, Joost (22 October 2024). "Het Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest zoekt schoonheid om te delen". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  21. ^ Ekker, Jan Pieter (28 October 2024). "Cultuurfonds Prijs à 100.000 euro voor Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest: 'Mooie investering'". Het Parool. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  22. ^ "'Chaabi Andalusi' pt 1 - Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest & Abir El Abed". vpro.nl. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  23. ^ "A Tribute to Oum Kalthoum — Karima El Fillali + Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest". muziekgebouw.nl. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  24. ^ Karin Veraart (16 February 2020). "Floris van Delft ondervangt het precaire onderwerp, met een duidelijke verhaallijn". de Volkskrant.
  25. ^ Hanny Alkema (11 March 2020). "'Jihad van Liefde' is een oprechte en breekbare strijdkreet tegen wrok en onbegrip". Trouw.
  26. ^ "Cantigas — Cappella Amsterdam en het Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest". amare.nl. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  27. ^ Janssen, Hein (14 April 2024). "'Café 749', over de Amsterdamse wethouder De Miranda, wil te veel van toen én nu laten zien". de Volkskrant. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  28. ^ Dijkstra, Freek (8 November 2024). "Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest betovert festival Le Guess Who? met 'Hadra Immersive'". Trouw. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  29. ^ Fritz de Jong (18 December 2023). "Recensie: Een gedanste reis die fantastisch wordt ondersteund door leden van het Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest". Het Parool.
  30. ^ Herien Wensink (2 July 2020). "Dit waren de beste theatervoorstellingen van het afgelopen seizoen". de Volkskrant.
  31. ^ Robert van Gijssel (1 December 2022). "De levensliederen van Sanaa Maharati verbinden Joodse muziek aan Arabische tradities". de Volkskrant.

Further reading

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