Into the Depths

Forget traditional views of a solo instrument. Double bassist Rick Stotijn, together with Het Klassiek Collectief, descends into the underworld in Microncerto I by Swiss composer Richard Dubugnon. This creates a striking contrast with Shostakovich's final symphony, Symphony No. 15. It slowly takes you through a world where harmony – and even melody – have vanished, with both familiar and lesser-known quotes. With an average age of under 30, Het Klassiek Collectief is a young orchestra. With a healthy mix of professionally trained musicians and the best amateurs, the orchestra programs artistically challenging music. "Het Klassiek Collectief is quite ambitious and strives for high quality. [...] Both the brass and strings delivered admirable performances," wrote Wenneke Saveijne in De Nieuwe Muze.