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Amsterdam is famous for its picturesque landscapes. Visitors are spell-bound by the captivating beauty of this capital of Netherlands. Christmas celebration begins at the middle of November. The celebration begins with a walk of Santa Clause along with his Black Peters.
It is said that Black Peters present those children with gifts and presents, who have been good. The naughtier students get punishment of being driven out of Amsterdam and send to London. People of the city wait for the festival eagerly.
On the occasion of Christmas Museumplein is transformed into a |
Christmas Square. A market of gift items and is put up in the area. An ice rink is opened in the evening, especially for the merry makers.
The rink is great for winding down. Houses around the town are decorated with colored lights and other decorating elements. The decoration around the city creates celestial lights.
Christmas matinee concert is a distinct tradition of Amsterdam. In the famous hall of Royal Concertgebouw such concerts took place. Each year different people conduct the show. Mariss Jansons is one of the masters of this art. He conducts the orchestra with the help of a female singer (soprano) Krassimira Stoyanova, alto (the lowest singing voice) Marianne Cornetti, a tenor Robert Dean Smith and the bass (male singer with the lowest voice) Franz-Josef Selig. Koday's Hungarian psalm is the essence of the whole program.
Concertgebouw Orchestra took shape in1888 as the orchestra of a newly built hall. Concertgebouw has the most enviable history amongst all the orchestras. The orchestra was honored with Royal prefix in 1988, its centenary year. The orchestra boasts of its six chief conductors in the eventful history of the Amsterdam musical group.
Willem Mengelberg conducted the orchestra with absolute mastery after Willem Kes. He executed his duty for 50 long years with absolute commitment. Eduard van Beinum took over in 1945 and remained in the position for 15 years. Eugen Jochum shared the position with young Bernard Haitink from 1964 to 1988. These partnerships proved to be landmark in the history of music. Riccardo Chailly's contribution to the orchestra proved to be beneficial for the orchestra and he was also the first non-Dutch chief conductor in the history of orchestras. He gave-up in 2004 and moved to Leipzig. Presently the orchestra is being conducted by Latvian-born Russian conductor Mariss Jansons. This man has considerable amount of contribution in the Christmas music Amsterdam.
Gustav Leonhardt and Bernard Winsemius have been playing the role of lead organists at Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam since 1981 both. The aura of their music makes the candlelit program on each Christmas makes the musical experience of the audience an unforgettable one. Gustav Leonhardt, the harpsichordist is famous as a Bach expert conductor and organist as well. Bernard Winsemius is younger to him and an expert bell-ringer. His lessons at the Beiaardschool (Dutch Carillon School in Amersfoort) have undoubtedly been useful in helping him achieve mastery. Now he is a famous name in Christmas music Amsterdam.
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