TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Dutch classical music group, Holland Baroque, brought the finest works of composers from the Netherlands to Indonesia. They made their debut performance at the Erasmus Huis Cultural Center, Dutch Embassy, Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Saturday evening, February 21, 2026.
Holland Baroque introduced memorable classical Dutch songs from the 17th century. The group, from Utrecht, Netherlands, played works by major Baroque composers, such as Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco, Heinrich Bach, Georg Friedrich Telemann, Giovanni Henrico Albicastro, Tomaso Albinoni, Arcangelo Corelli, and Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello.
Not all members of Holland Baroque were present in Indonesia. Those performing in Indonesia were violinist Judith Steenbrink, violinist Katarina Aleksi, violinist Andrej Kapor, violist Joseph Tan, and cellist Tomasz Pokrzywinski.
Holland Baroque Profile
Judith Steenbrink, the artistic director, explained that Holland Baroque is a musical group that focuses on Dutch Baroque music. She feels this music is very special and wants to share it with audiences in Indonesia. "Even though it's 300 years old, our music is still alive today," Steenbrink told Tempo at the venue.
Steenbrink explained that in Baroque music, musicians can convey many emotions and stories to the audience. Through music, she explained, musicians can share stories of the past with listeners.
According to Steenbrink, Dutch composers are no less great than German greats, including Johann Sebastian Bach. Therefore, she believes that Dutch classical music can find a place for listeners in Indonesia. "We want to present songs that might not be played every day," she said.
For the opening and closing performances, Holland Baroque collaborated with the Jakarta Conservatory of Music. They even performed the song "Rambadia" from North Sumatra.
Sharing Experiences with Young Indonesian Musicians
Steenbrink explained that Holland Baroque also wants to share its experiences with young musicians in Indonesia. "I think Indonesian music students have a great ability to present their work," said Steenbrink.
Judith Steenbrink, along with Tineke Steenbrink, writes and arranges for the orchestra and guest musicians. This has resulted in innovative projects such as Gospel Baroque with the London Community Gospel Choir, Love is Crazy with punk diva Sven Ratzke, and Silk Baroque with sheng player Wu Wei.
Through extensive research, they have discovered a treasure trove of repertoire and fostered an appreciation for forgotten 17th-century composers such as Benedictus a Sancto Josepho.
Holland Baroque has received widespread acclaim with projects featuring trumpeter Eric Vloeimans and singer-songwriter Daniël Lohues, as well as through their collaboration with Reinbert de Leeuw. The orchestra also supports young talent and the future of music by nurturing children's creativity through school concerts.
After performing in Jakarta, Holland Baroque will perform in Medan on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. They will also perform in Semarang on Friday, February 27, 2026.
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