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The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra (AAO) (Dutch: Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest) is a Dutch orchestra specialising in Arabo-Andalusian music. It was founded in 2011 by a group of friends in Amsterdam, with the aim of sharing the musical heritage of Al-Andalus. The AAO has also blended Arabo-Andalusian music with other genres, such as classical Arabic music, jazz and flamenco.
The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra, established in 2011, seeks to bridge musical traditions originating in historical Al-Andalus and still today performed in the Maghreb countries with contemporary cultural life, interpreting this music in the Netherlands, while blending it with storytelling, poetry, and theatrical performance. [1]
The AAO has performed in concerts with international artists and companies including Estrella Morente, Sami Yusuf, Cappella Amsterdam, Nabyla Maan, Nai Barghouti, Naaz, Ghalia Benali, Karima el Filali, Najat Rajoui, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [2] [3] and the Metropole Orkest. [4] [5] [6] In October 2024, they performed a concert dedicated to the music of Arab music icon Umm Kulthum. [7] They also played at festivals and venues such as the Holland Festival, [8] [9] Le Guess Who?, [10] TivoliVredenburg [11] and Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. On Dutch TV, they also made appearances at Podium Klassiek, Vrije Geluiden and On Stage. [12] [13] Sometimes adding other instruments, the AAO usually comprises the following line-up: violin, viola, oud, qanun, ney, rabab, string bass, percussion. [14] [15]
The AAO has also been active in the theatre: they worked with theatre and dance companies including ICK Dans Amsterdam, Orkater and Jeugdtheater de Krakeling. [16] [17] Together with the Meervaart theatre, the AAO has been organising the biennial Ud Festival. [18] [19] [20]
In 2024 the AAO won the Dutch Cultuurfonds Prize. [21]
Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool wrote about one of their performance: "The musicians effortlessly tap into diverse registers. Classical Arabic vocals, funk, smooth jazz: this ensemble can play it all." [29] De Volkskrant included their progamme Jihad of Love in its list of 10 best theatre performances of the 2019-2020 season, and called Estrella Morente's concert with the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra "one of the most spectacular shows" of Le Guess Who? festival in 2022. [30] [31]
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