Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra plays various music forms from Granada to Baghdad across diverse periods and styles. From the rich Arabo Andalus repertoire to the mystical Eastern music, and from the refined improvisational music of the Arab world to the folk music from the Maghreb. 

In 2011, the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra performed in Amsterdam for the first time. A group of young Amsterdam musicians alongside Arabo Andalus musicians from Morocco. This marked the beginning of an unforgettable journey with international top acts through theaters and concert halls in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Morocco. 

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra plays three types of Arabo Andalus repertoires. The tarab (classical) is the rich repertoire from Al Andalus. The chaabi andalusi focuses on musical crossovers and folk music influenced by the Arabo Andalus repertoire. Great masters such as Abdesadaq Chekara (1933-1998) were the foundation of chaabi andalusi. The sufi andalusi is the mystical spiritual sound of Arabo Andalus music. The music and vocal improvisation are passed down from master to student in the zawiyas (holy graves). 

Meanwhile, the orchestra does more than just music. The AAO has an extensive range of music education and exhibitions and is the organizer of the Ud Festival. Additionally, the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra produces concerts/theatrical performances with a specific theme or focus on a particular genre. The theatrical performances of the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra center on the expressive power of music and the culture of Al Andalus, through a combination of stories, acting, and of course, music. 

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra: 

• Plays music forms from Granada to Baghdad across diverse periods and styles; 
• Gives concerts with renowned artists and honors legends such as Oum Kalthoum, Abdelhalim Hafez, and Mohamed Abdelwahab; 
• Creates theatrical performances based on the expressive power of music and the culture of Al Andalus; 
• Offers a wide range of music education and exhibitions in addition to music.