"The performance was marked by a remarkable depth of chamber musicianship"

De Nieuwe Muze, 5 May 2026

The Rietveld Ensemble is a Utrecht-based chamber music collective bringing together distinguished soloists, conservatory professors and principal players from leading Dutch orchestras. Its flexible line-up allows the ensemble to explore a wide range of chamber music formations, from intimate chamber works to larger ensemble projects, spanning the Classical and Romantic repertoire as well as the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Known for imaginative, concept-driven programming, the ensemble creates connections between familiar masterpieces, rediscovered repertoire and new works. Through collaborations with guest artists, curators and contemporary composers, the Rietveld Ensemble regularly presents world premieres and offers audiences fresh perspectives on the rich diversity of chamber music.

Elisabeth Perry –Violin
Richard Wolfe – Viola
Matthias Naegele – Cello
Nancy Braithwaite - Clarinet

The Rietveld Ensemble is a unique and flexible chamber music collective of top-level musicians with international backgrounds, based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Its members are distinguished soloists, conservatory professors and principal players from major Dutch orchestras. Among them are Elisabeth Perry, former concertmaster of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and professor of violin at the Utrecht Conservatory; Richard Wolfe, former principal violist of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and professor of viola at the conservatories of Amsterdam and Utrecht; Matthias Naegele, international cello soloist and chamber musician; and Nancy Braithwaite, former professor of clarinet and chamber music at the Rotterdam Conservatory.

The ensemble performs chamber music from the Classical and Romantic periods through to the 20th and 21st centuries. It also maintains close collaborations with contemporary composers, frequently giving world premiere performances of new works written especially for the group. Their Utrecht concert series, Chamber Music under the Dom with the Rietveld Ensemble, takes place in the Marnixzaal on the Domplein. These concerts feature a wide range of repertoire for strings, winds, voice and piano, in formations ranging from solo works to nonets. A number of performances are recorded live by Concertzender Radio for broadcast each season.

The Rietveld Ensemble is also committed to fostering the next generation of chamber musicians. Exceptionally talented young artists are regularly invited to perform alongside the ensemble, creating an inspiring environment for artistic growth. Outstanding guest musicians frequently join the group, adding variety and fresh energy to each concert.

The ensemble takes its name from the renowned Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld (1888–1964), who lived and worked in Utrecht. Much of the ensemble’s repertoire was composed during his lifetime – a fitting tribute to one of the city’s most iconic figures.

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