Isabelle van Keulen Ensemble

The Isabelle van Keulen Ensemble was initiated in 2011 by the internationally well established violinist and violist Isabelle van Keulen, following her Carte Blanche concert series in the Concertgebouw Haarlem, the Netherlands, with the purpose to perform Astor Piazzolla’s Tango Nuevo master works to the highest technical and musical standards.
Together with bandoneonist Christian Gerber, he himself one of the leading performers of his generation, and winner of several prizes, a.o. the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, pianist Ulrike Payer, well known for her versatility and sensibility in all musical genres and double bass player Rüdiger Ludwig, a charismatic musician and Co-Principal of the NDR Orchestra Hanover, they overwhelmed their audience on their first appearance.
The result was a series of high profile concerts: Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Rheingau Music Festival, Schlesweg Holstein Festival, Delft Festival a.o., reinvitations followed immediately.
In 2013 their first CD and DVD „Tango!”  appeared on Challenge Classics with well known works by Astor Piazzolla, which was highly praised in the international press and received several awards at Dutch and German radio stations: CD of the week with f.e. Hessische Rundfunk Frankfurt and Norddeutsche Rundfunk.
Together with the DVD production Challenge brought out a documentary about the making of the CD (‚Music from the Heart’). Following this suceess several tours were planned, Great Britain, Switzerland and the Benelux.
In 2015, the second CD of the ensemble, "Grand Tango!", received again excellent reviews - the renowned magazine "The Strad" wrote: "Van Keulen and her colleagues are the ideal interpreters for Piazzolla!" The release of the third Piazzolla recording "Ángeles y Diablos" will be followed to an extended concert activity again, leading the ensemble for the third time  to the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, to Oslo and to various international festivals.  In their concerts the Isabelle van Keulen ensemble inspires their audience with the highest level of perfection and musical intensity and transmits the poignant beauty, strength and melancholy Piazzolla’s music in a direct and gripping way.