The portion of high baroque served up by PRJCT Amsterdam can safely be described as generous: grand and regal! The program features music by Vivaldi in which the strings reign supreme and Maarten Engeltjes’ crystalline voice triumphs. Just as moving as Vivaldi’s motet Filiae maestae Jerusalem and his incomparable Stabat Mater is Johann Adolf Hasse’s Salve Regina, which is also on the program: in 18th-century Italy, it was a hit for the castrato singer Farinelli.
‘ A voice you want to keep listening to,’ praised Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant in response to Dutch countertenor Maarten Engeltjes’ most recent CD release. Round and soothing, honest and glowing, with that golden edge that elevates ‘beautiful’ to ‘excellent’, Engeltjes’ voice has taken him to the most renowned opera stages and concert halls in around twenty years. With a heart for baroque and contemporary repertoire, Engeltjes ensures that his own wonder at well-known and lesser-known masterpieces is also intensely experienced by the audience at every performance.
With a debut CD on the Sony label (Bach: Forgotten arias, 2019), the career of baroque orchestra PRJCT Amsterdam took off in 2019. Founded in 2017 by countertenor Maarten Engeltjes, the ensemble is not only a breeding ground for talented musicians but also a sanctuary for baroque performances with vision and temperament. Between sweet charm and crystal-clear counterpoint, PRJCT Amsterdam stands for baroque with spice and zest, which will appeal to both aspiring music lovers and connoisseurs.
