The Orchestra has made the most of its time in Amsterdam — getting over jet lag, exploring all the city has to offer, being reunited with their instruments after several days in transit.  And, and Wednesday night, performing works by Barber, Sibelius and Mahler to an enthusiastic audience at the Concertgebouw.  Following the concert, musicians, staff and accompanying board members were treated to a lovely reception courtesy of ING.

 

As you can see from the photo album, there are several distinguishing characteristics of Amsterdam — chief among them are unique modes of transportation.  Bicycles and boats.  According to one helpful cabbie, there are 20 million bikes in Amsterdam.  More bikes than people!  And, apparently, thousands of them end up in the canals annually, later being plucked out by enormous claws on barges sent down the waterways.

 

Many members of the Orchestra took to the water on a canal cruise Tuesday evening ending up at the ultra-stylish home of Jennifer and Liam Maher, sister and brother-in-law of flutist Wendy Williams.  The gathering gave everyone a welcome sense of connection to the larger orchestra family at the start of tour.  

 

From the water, or from the street, you can see another common feature of Amsterdam architecture — hooks hanging out from the side of buildings at the roof line.  When moving in or out of the house, furniture is suspended by ropes and hoisted in through the large windows facing the street or canal because the doorways and staircases are too narrow.

 

Amsterdam has been a great city to start the tour from. We’re off to London in the morning, with the Proms concert  tomorrow evening.