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Culture

Amsterdam has always had a vibrant and varied cultural scene, but over the last few decades it has blossomed thanks to a renewed interest in Dutch culture. First and foremost, Amsterdam is a musical city, offering a range of musical styles from street performers to carillons to the more highbrow midday and evening performances in the Concertgebouw (Concert Hall), which is noted for its superb acoustics. Most summer evenings, it is possible to attend an organ concert or a recital of Baroque chamber music in one of Amsterdam's magnificent old churches, such as Oude Kerk and Nieuwe Kerk.

The Dutch National Ballet is considered one of the best and most versatile companies in Western Europe. Its many devotees flock to the Muziektheater, a 1600-seat colisseum that overlooks the Amstel River, to see the great classical ballets as well as works by twentieth-century dance innovators. The Muziektheater also plays host to the Netherlands Opera and Netherlands Dance Theatre, Holland's other world-class ballet company, as well as foreign companies. Some international fringe theatre companies perform in English and musicals and cabarets find a home in the Royal CarrÉ Theatre on the River Amstel and in the nearby Kleine Komedie, a charming little theatre dating back to 1788.

Amsterdam stages around 15,000 performances every year (roughly 40 a day) although there is a more concentrated cultural season lasting from September to the end of June. Shows do not cost a fortune and a relaxed dress code means that even the opera can be attended in fairly casual clothes. Tickets can be booked through AUB (tel: (020) 621 1211), which is found at Leidseplein 26 and is open 0900-2100. AUB only accepts payment by credit card. There is also an internet site (www.amsterdamarts.com) which provides useful information on the city's arts scene.

Music: The Concertgebouw, Concertgebouwplein 2-6 (tel: (020) 671 8345 (reservations) or 675 4411 (information); website: www.concertgebouw.nl), is home to the world-famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (whose conductor is Riccardo Chailly), but also plays host to visiting companies and international soloists. Free concerts take place in either the Grote Zaal (Great Hall) or Kleine Zaal (Recital Hall) of the Concertgebouw Wednesday 1230-1300. The Beurs de Berlage, Damrak 62A (tel: (020) 627 1161 (information) or (020) 627 0466 (bookings between 1400-1700), is an architecturally fascinating building where the 140-member Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra is based. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and guest artists tend to perform in the building's 'glass box', Aga Zaal.

The Boekmanzaal is part of the Muziektheater (Opera House), located at Amstel 3 (tel: (020) 551 8100; fax: (020) 551 8025). It holds a free lunchtime concert 1230-1300 Tuesday, from October to June, often performed by members of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Choir of the Netherlands Opera and the Netherlands Ballet Orchestra.

Less formal concerts are performed by four of the city's seventeenth-century carillons on a weekly basis. Bell ringing takes place Tuesday 1200-1300 at Westertoren (Western Tower), Thursday at Zuidertoren (Southern Tower) and Friday at Munttoren. The bell ringer at Oude Kerkstoren (Old Church Tower) gets to sleep in - concerts are Saturday 1600-1700.

Theatre: The Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre), at Leidseplein 26 (tel: (020) 624 2311; fax: (020) 623 8685), often stages English-language theatre productions, as well as dance performances. The Koninklijk Theater CarrÉ (Royal CarrÉ Theatre) often plays host to visiting English-language musicals, as well as opera. It is located at Amstel 115-125 (tel: (020) 622 5225; fax: (020) 624 8499).

Dance: The National Ballet and illustrious visitors perform at the Muziektheater (Opera House), situated on a curve of the Amstel in the heart of the city at Amstel 3 (tel: (020) 551 8100; fax: (020) 551 8025; website: www.het-nationale-ballet.nl). Amsterdam's latest cultural landmark, the main 1600-seat theatre is amazingly intimate. The Muziektheater is closed in July.

Film: The multi-screen City cinema on the Leidseplain shows Hollywood blockbusters, but Amsterdam is also known for its arty cinemas, such as Tuschinski, which show films from all over the world. Films are rarely dubbed into Dutch, but are shown in the original language with subtitles. Films shot in Amsterdam include Mike van Diem's Karakter, Dick Maas's Amsterdamned and the Bond film Diamonds are Forever.

Cultural events: Every 30 April, a huge street party and carnival marks Queen's Day. Floating Amsterdam occupies the last two weeks of May, when outdoor productions are staged on the River Amstel. Every June, the month-long Holland Festival, featuring music, dance and drama, takes place. Tickets can be booked in advance through tourist offices, but some same-day sale tickets are always held at the Musiektheater box office. In August, concerts are performed on boats ringing the Prinsengracht canal.

Literary Notes
Ian McEwan won the 1998 Booker Prize for his Amsterdam, which is partly set in the city. The city also provided the inspiration for part of John Irving's novel, A Widow for One Year (1999) and Sidney Sheldon's If Tomorrow Comes (1986). Albert Camus wrote La Chute (1970) while based here; more recently, Deborah Moggach's Tulip Fever (1998) depicted life in sixteenth-century Amsterdam. The city has played a prominent role in the works of Dutch authors also; two well-known books that have been translated into English include Blue Mondays by Arnon Grunberg and Bitter Herbs by Marga Minco. The unique ambience of Amsterdam permeates the work of Nicolas Freeling in his A Long Silence detective novel. Perhaps the most famous work to come out of Amsterdam, however, is The Diary of Anne Frank. Marga Minco's Empty House (1986) may be less famous, but it explores some of the same issues.



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
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