Rafael Payare and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal travelled to the Concertgebouw Amsterdam with some very special luggage: a pair of orchestral bells made by the Eijsbouts foundry in the Netherlands.
The programme
Many years ago, the OSM decided to replace their tubular bells, which they had used since the orchestra’s inception in 1934. Attracted by the “excellence of the Dutch craftsmanship and Eijsbouts’ ability to produce bells of incomparable quality”, they decided to take the plunge and commissioned four bells from the Dutch foundry near Eindhoven.
Two of these bells returned home to the Netherlands to take centre stage in Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique to the delight of their solo percussionist Serge Desgagné.
Watch the Dutch bells take centre stage
The bells are possibly too loud to be on stage with the other musicians, so for the concert in the Concertgebouw, they were positioned at the top of those famous stairs.
Learn more about Dutch artisan craftsmanship at the Eijsbouts foundry
The bells attracted lots of curious admirers in the Concertgebouw
The concert also featured Daniil Trifonov who played Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no.1 in the first half and received rapturous applause
Click on the link below to read my article for Dutch News
Eijsbouts bells are found all over the world.
Watch a short video of a bell taking centre stage at the 2012 London Olympics
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Clare attended the concert in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on 27th November, 2024
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