Ciconia – The Hague String Orchestra
Dick van Gasteren, conductor
Maria Pedano, soprano & oboe
Concerts
Programma
ARIEL RAMÍREZ (1921-2010) – Kyrie uit Missa Creola
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS (1887 – 1959) – Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5 voor sopraan en strijkers
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) – Ave Maria
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) – Tango Ballet
ENNIO MORRICONE (1928-2020) – Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission
ALBERTO GINASTERA (1916-1983) – Concerto for Strings, op. 33
ARTURO MÁRQUEZ (geb. 1950) – Danzón no.2
Celebrate Christmas with Ciconia – The Hague String Orchestra in the vibrant spirit of Latin America: warm, exuberant and full of joie de vivre. No wintry stillness, but sultry evenings, rhythm, and communal singing. Feliz Navidad takes you to a world of sun-drenched melodies, colourful nativity scenes and festive traditions beneath a southern starry sky.
The versatile Argentinian Maria Pedano shines in a unique dual role as both soprano and oboist. With her expressive playing and warm voice, she brings this Latin American Christmas to life in beloved works such as Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe, Piazzolla’s Ave Maria and Villa-Lobos’s fifth and most famous Bachianas Brasileiras. Ciconia also performs music by Teresa Carreño, a pioneering figure in South American classical music, alongside fiery and lyrical works by Piazzolla, Ginastera and Márquez. Feliz Navidad is a sparkling, heart-warming concert filled with light, colour and musical fire.
Maria Pedano, soprano & oboe
The versatile musician Maria Pedano is both an oboist and a soprano. Her musical interests extend well beyond classical singing to include chanson, jazz and musical theatre.
Maria received her first oboe lessons from Hans Roerade and, in 2022, graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam at the age of just nineteen, receiving the highest distinction for her studies with Ernest Rombout and Aisling Casey. Since 2019, she has also studied classical voice at the same conservatoire with Sasja Hunnego, completing her degree in 2026. She has taken masterclasses with musicians including Pauline Oostenrijk, Erik Bosgraaf, Ralph van Daal, Dennis Osver, David Walter, Jean-Louis Capezzali and Gregor Witt.
Highlights of her career include performances at the Kinderprinsengrachtconcert in 2014, with the Metropole Orkest during the MAX Proms, and with the Residentie Orkest at the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam. She has also performed in Moscow, Paris, Zurich, Hong Kong and Singapore with the LGT Young Soloists, and appeared alongside Herman van Veen at the celebratory concert marking the 80th birthday of Princess Irene of the Netherlands.
Maria has won first prizes at several competitions, including the Prinses Christina Junior Concours, the Concours de la Chanson Alliance Française, the Prinses Christina Concours and the Gnessin Competition for Young Musicians in Moscow.
She is a regular guest at festivals including Wonderfeel, the Grachtenfestival, the Festival of Russian Chamber Music Winteravonden aan de Amstel, the Spivakov Festival in Moscow and the Young Talent Festival Schiermonnikoog.
In 2020, Maria appeared with her sister as a guest of Ciconia, performing songs by Korngold and Kurt Weill in the programme Der blaue Engel, which was broadcast on NTR’s Avondconcert on Radio 4. In 2023, she both played and sang the role of Gretel in the production Christmas with the Brothers Grimm.