The audience in Amsterdam

We´re well into the 2023/24 season and as usual, I´m performing many concerts, which always makes me happy.

Two nights ago, I performed in a lovely venue in Amsterdam called Splendor.

You might not know this, but The Netherlands is one of the important places in Europe for the bandoneon. This is in big part due to the bandoneonist Carel Kraayenhof performing for the royal wedding of Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta in 2002, a performance which was broadcast live on TV and that practically all the nation watched.

Carel, and many other bandoneonists, were in the audience last Thursday when I performed in Amsterdam.

Usually, musicians tend to get very nervous when they perform in front of their colleagues. And understandably so.

But I don´t. I actually enjoyed it and felt happy to be sharing music also among my colleagues. It was an inspiration and a way to honor the music and the instrument among a lovely public comprised of consummate professionals and music lovers.

The general remark was… how on earth can I play such complicated music on the bandoneon???

It was Bach´s music.

And it is crazy to play it on the bandoneon. Too difficult. Takes way too much time to learn.

But when the opportunity arrives and you finally can play it, it is just a great, great moment. A brief moment to keep for eternity. I hope some of the public feels that way as well.

Have a great day.

Claudio.

P.D. Watch the videoclip of one of the pieces I played, the d minor fugue, right here.