Various Composers - Dialogos (Constantinople; Holland Baroque)

Information

1. Didem Bașar - Echoes of the Throne Room (orch. Judith Steenbrink)
2. Tineke Steenbrink - Frate Vento
3. Dimitrius Cantemir, Judith Steenbrink - Steenbrink: Heaven lives in the other
4. Judith Steenbrink - Welcome
5. Tineke Steenbrink - Angelus Bells (orch. Judith Steenbrink)
6. Ali Ufki - Muhayyer Semai (orch. Judith Steenbrink)
7. Tineke Steenbrink - Walking in the Desert
8. Kiya Tabassian - Bood Amma Naboud (orch. Judith Steenbrink)
9. Kiya Tabassian - Dream of Hope (orch. Judith Steenbrink)
10. Judith Steenbrink - Lauda
11. Judith Steenbrink - Sia laudato San Francesco

Constantinople

Holland Baroque

Date: 2026

Label: PentaTone

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Dialogos is a collaborative project by Holland Baroque and ensemble Constantinople, inspired by the historic meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil during the Fifth Crusade in 1219, symbolizing openness and mutual respect. Drawing on sources such as the Laudario di Cortona and works by the seventeenth-century musician Ali Ufki, the ensembles create new compositions that blend Persian, Ottoman, and early Western Baroque musical traditions. Under the artistic direction of Kiya Tabassian and Judith and Tineke Steenbrink, the project becomes a musical dialogue that highlights cultural exchange and shared humanity. Known for innovative reinterpretations of Baroque repertoire, both ensembles use this collaboration to transform historical inspiration into a contemporary message of connection through music.

Constantinople is a Montreal-based musical ensemble founded in 2001 by artistic director Kiya Tabassian, built around the idea of artistic journeys across geographical, historical, and cultural boundaries. Inspired by the historical city that connected East and West, the ensemble explores a wide range of musical traditions, from medieval manuscripts and Mediterranean repertoires to Eastern traditions and New World Baroque. Constantinople frequently collaborates with internationally renowned artists and ensembles, blending diverse musical influences through research and creative experimentation. Regularly invited to major festivals and concert halls worldwide, the group has received numerous awards and critical acclaim, produced over twenty recordings, premiered more than sixty works, and performed in hundreds of cities across dozens of countries.

Holland Baroque is an innovative Baroque orchestra founded in 2006, known for combining historical performance traditions with creative experimentation and contemporary influences. Led by artistic directors Tineke and Judith Steenbrink, the ensemble develops distinctive programs that reinterpret Baroque repertoire while encouraging improvisation and collaboration. Holland Baroque frequently works with musicians, composers, choirs, and theatre artists, creating projects that bridge past and present. Their collaborations with diverse artists have resulted in acclaimed recordings, awards, and interdisciplinary productions, including film and documentary projects. Through these creative partnerships and stylistic explorations, the ensemble aims to demonstrate that Baroque music remains vibrant, relevant, and open to new artistic possibilities.