VIOLA VIOLA

The Viola Viola Foundation is breaking the indifferent ‘unknown-makes-unloved’ trend with special projects by challenging and enthusing a new, more varied and often younger audience for classical music, with Esther Apituley as the driving force and a leading role for the viola . The key lies in renewing the existing music practice, by reducing the distance between performer and audience. This requires a new approach and a fresh presentation.

Creating a lighter, more playful and relaxed atmosphere, the music itself is experienced as direct, exciting, intense, inspiring and engaging. The perception of the listener is central to this. The method of implementation and the moment of recognition by the public are decisive for the success of this ambition.

Viola Viola Festival

With the Viola Viola Festival , the foundation put itself on the map in 2012 and 2014. For a long time the viola was the modest, somewhat unsung brother of the cello and the violin. Slowly but surely he is now emerging from the shadows, not least because the beautiful, deep, somewhat husky sound of the instrument is well received by a modern audience. The festival, with Haarlem as its base, was a dazzling illustration of this: it focused on the viola in a series of low and high-threshold concerts and performances. The festival interweaves facets and possibilities with diverse music styles, compositions and backgrounds.

In addition to professional musicians, amateurs, children and school classes also actively participated in the festival, led by Esther Apituley. But other artistic disciplines did not leave their mark either; poets, writers, actors and visual artists make an important contribution to an exciting symbiosis of art forms.

Esther Apituley’s Locomotive

In 2015 the Viola Viola Festival was renamed Esther Apituley’s Locomotive. The intention remained the same, only the setup changed. No longer one stand and spread over several days, today it is a one-day festival in theaters throughout the Netherlands. Esther Apituley’s Locomotive travels in 2016 and 2017 with the program Bach & Bleekwater. Like the Viola Viola Festival, Esther Apituley’s Locomotive is made possible by the Viola Viola Foundation.