Current
Michiel van Musscher (1645-1705)
On March 9, 2012 the Museum Van Loon opens the exhibition Michiel van Musscher (1645 -1705) the Wealth of the Golden Age. It is the first exhibition of the work of Van Musscher. It is also the first exhibition to take place in the recently opened coach house of the museum, which makes it possible to view the collection family portraits in the canal house as well.
At the end of the 17th century Van Musscher was a successful portraitist. Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin, visiting the capital in 1687, deemed him the very best Amsterdam painter for small portraits. His portraits hung literally door to door in the Golden Bend of the Amsterdam Herengracht. Next to many Amsterdam regents he also portrayed Tsar Peter the Great.
Van Musscher’s portraits are painted in the tradition of Netscher and Van Mieris. His work is of an unequalled quality and shows a great richness in details. From the exuberant way the Dutch elite had themselves displayed the wealth of the Golden Age is amply highlighted.
The exhibition of Michiel van Musscher shows not only his more famous paintings from Dutch collections and the museum itself, but also a significant number of paintings from private collections and international museums. The exhibition is a tribute to the work of Van Musscher and visualizes the latter days of the Dutch Golden Age.
A book will be published to commemorate this remarkable exhibition.
During the exhibition a surcharge of € 2,- is applied on the regular entry fee.
Expected
Concert and walk along the canals Dutch Masters
The announcement of Concerts and Walk along the Canals Dutch Masters has caused a tremendous run on the cards and in the meantime as well the morning- as the afternoonconcert is sold out.
However, you are most welcome the visit the Museum Van Loon. Till June 10 the exposition Michiel van Musscher (1645-1705) The wealth of the Golden Age is to be seen.
Carriages of the country Estate
In the previous century it was practice among the elite to be in town during winter and to depart in summer for their country estates to escape the summer heat. Along the banks of the Vecht river and on many other locations beautiful pleasure grounds arose. Country life became lifestyle of the wealthy Amsterdam merchants.
The Amsterdam Van Loon family owned an impressive canal house with a coach house to keep their numerous coaches and horses. Furthermore they possessed a large country estate Hydepark. This truly gigantic house was built in 1889 for the Van Loon – Borski couple and numbered over 80 rooms for their foreign and domestic guests. The Hydepark stable complex was even more imposing.
Although Hydepark was destroyed by fire, a number of sport-, service- and gala-carriages and accompanying liveries and many photographs have survived. During the exhibition Rijtuigen op de Buitenplaats – Carriages of the country Estate - these items provide ample picture of life in the country.
Open Garden Days 2012
As every year the Canal Museums are organising the Open Garden Days in Amsterdam. Behind the façades of many canalhouses beautiful gardens are hidden. It’s hardly possible to visit these beautiful gardens, with the exception of the third weekend in June. Then visitors are welcome to admire some thirty, mostly private, gardens for three days in a row.
When the Amsterdam canal ring was built, its design included not only stately homes and blooming gardens, but also spectacular garden houses and picturesque arbours. Here, the residents could pass away the time drinking tea, playing games and enjoying the greenery to their hearts’ desire. The Open Garden Days will include many gardens with a garden house or an arbour that have never been opened to the public before. The garden houses give an interesting overview of the architectural styles of the last centuries. The recently restored coachhouse of the Museum Van Loon will be open for the first time in 2012.
Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm
Entry Fee Open Gardens Days: a three day pass costs € 15.00
On the Three Day Pass you will find all garden addresses with a brief description and a city plan.
Ticket Sale and starting addresses:
Bijbels Museum, Herengracht 366-68; Hus Marseille, Keizersgracht 401; Museum Van Loon, Keizersgracht 672 and Museum Willet-Holthuysen, Herengracht 605.
Advanced booking: the Amsterdam Tourist Office (www.iamsterdam.com)
Note: Most gardens are not accessible to wheel chairs and perambulators. Dogs are not allowed.
For more information go to www.opengardendays.nl, email to info@opengardendays.nl or call the special garden number: +31(0)20-3203660
Opera in the garden La Serva Padrona
For the 9th consecutive year Museum Van Loon organizes a short opera in its canal house garden, this year La Serva Padrona, a short opera from 1733 by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736).
La Serva Padrona is a beautiful example of the ‘opera buffa’; the Napolitan comic opera. This genre, originally meant as an intermezzo between acts of an ‘opera seria’ (serious opera), developed in a short period of time into a proper opera genre. Famous examples are Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart and Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini.
The Maid the Boss is about the battle between the sexes, as the house maid refuses to play second fiddle to her ‘padrone’ any longer. An early example of female empowerment in this 18th century opera buffa.
Maid Serpina is on strike. Her employer Uberto doesn’t notice anything until his breakfast isn’t served. Then the battle really starts. The two main characters can’t stand each other, have a verbal contest but in doing so fall in love. The trail of strenght tranforms into a loveaffair. The question remains however who really is boss now?
La Serva Padrona brings short arias and duets, the melodies are simple yet charming.
Performers are Else-Linde Buitenhuis (soprano), Jan Willem Baljet (bariton) and Jeroen Sarphati (piano). Director: Elsina Jansen; styling: Martina Fehmer
The concert will take about 45 minutes. After the performance people can enjoy a drink and a stroll through the luscious garden. The house itself can also be visited.
Times: 15 aug 17:00 (première) and 19:30
16 aug 17:00 and 19:30
17 aug 17:00 and 19:30
18 aug 17:00 and 19:30
19 aug 17:00 and 19:30
Entree fee: € 18.--
Tickets available only at:
grachtenfestival www.grachtenfestival.nl
Seating is limited, order well in advance (sale starts July)