Design © M.Waite

CAMERATA ARDESKO

The chamber orchestra Camerata Ardesko was founded in Groningen in late 2006 by a group of international conservatorium graduates and driven conservatorium students keen to establish a vibrant, professional chamber orchestra comprising of members for whom music is not only a job but also a passion. Based in the Netherlands, Camerata Ardesko is a truly international ensemble with members from many nations including; Australia, the Netherlands, Romania, France, Russia, Germany and Brazil.

Both parts of the orchestra’s name link to the general philosophy of the ensemble. The Florentine Camerata were a group of 16th century artists who came together to share their ideas about the arts. The word ‘Ardesko’ was taken from the latin word ardesco, meaning ‘to set fire to’, ‘to excite’.

Depending on repertoire demands and the size of the orchestra, Camerata Ardesko plays as much as possible without conductor, believing that every single member of the orchestra becomes actively involved in the process of making music and a greater intimacy and tightness of ensemble is created. Melanie Waite is the current artistic director and concertmaster.

Since the first concert series in February 2007 Camerata Ardesko has given over 40 concerts around the Netherlands. Striving to reach as broad an audience as possible Camerata Ardesko performs music from all periods from baroque to contemporary and is also involved with projects that blur style boundaries such as the jazz project Quantum Entanglement.

Some of the concerts and events that Camerata Ardesko has performed at include; Wild Country in Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam and the 2010 Grachtenfestival, the 2009 New Year's concert of bank ABN AMRO, the official opening of the 2008 Nooderzon festival with the Balanescu Quartet, a special series of eight 'Rush Hour' concerts for concert venue 'De Oosterpoort' in Groningen and the Awards Presentation ceremony of ADCN. These many exciting and varied concerts of Camerata Ardesko make it one of the Netherlands’ top new ensembles.