Amsterdam – “Her Majesty the Viol” is a concert organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of Amsterdam, offering a refined tribute to the viola da gamba, an emblematic instrument of European classical music between the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Taking the stage, this evening, are viol players Amalia Ottone, Margo Fontijne, and Marco Ottone, who will guide the audience on a captivating musical journey across Europe from the 16th to the 18th century, with a repertoire including works by Ortiz, Coperario, Forqueray, Marais, Abel, and others.

The performance will begin at 8 PM at Keizersgrachtkerk, featuring solo, duo, and trio pieces for viola da gamba, with a focus on the musical traditions of Italy, England, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Special attention will be given to the French school under Louis XIV, the Sun King, during which the instrument reached its pinnacle.

Amalia Ottone began studying the viola da gamba at the age of five under Claudia Pasetto. She continued her training with Gianni La Marca and Noelia Reverte, graduating from the “O. Respighi” Conservatory in Latina. She is currently studying at the “E.F. Dall’Abaco” Conservatory in Verona and regularly performs in chamber ensembles with her father, musician and luthier Marco Ottone. Margo Fontijne is one of the most respected and well-known viol players in the Netherlands. She studied with Anneke Pols, Wieland Kuijken, Jordi Savall, and other renowned masters, specializing in historically informed performance of repertoire from the Middle Ages to the late Baroque. She is a co-founder of the Corona ensemble in Amsterdam.