Rick Stotijn

There is a good argument regarding the double bass as the foundation of many musical performances. At least to Rick Stotijn, who makes this point convincingly through his versatility. Be it as a soloist, a chamber musician, the principal double bass player in various orchestras or as a member of innovative ensembles.

Soloist and chamber musician

Rick is a tireless promoter of his instrument and its sheer endless possibilities. Martijn Padding dedicated a new double bass concerto to Rick in 2016. Reports from the Low Country was first performed at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by James Gaffigan. In 2018, Rick and violinist Malin Broman premiered Britta Byström’s Infinite Rooms, with David Afkam conducting the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Rick premiered Jesper Nordin’s new double bass concerto with Västerås Sinfonietta in 2024. Other composers, such as Michel van de Aa and Ned Rorem, have also risen to the occasion by writing new compositions for him.

Rick also championed the works of Giovanni Bottesini, the colourful 19th century composer/double bass player/conductor. Classics Today wondered if this could be ‘the best Bottesini CD ever’, and the press wrote:

‘His bass can match Liza Ferschtman’s agile violin playing not only in the many hair-raising rapid figurations, but also in the work’s lovely cantabile melodies.’

Turning a different corner – and to the surprise of many – Rick made his instrument dance in works by Piazzolla, Rota and De Falla. ‘Capturing the moods from the romantic to the menacing’, Gramophone wrote about the recording Basso Bailando with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Next Level Double Bass

Classical music from any era is only a part of the music Rick embraces. He is a co-founder of the Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble, which builds programmes around an event, idea, or concept. This narrative allows the comparison and contrast of music across all periods and styles – from Purcell to Dylan, from Messiaen to Radiohead.

Together with Bram van Sambeek, he founded ORBI. Described as a ‘chamber music rock group’, it combines the improvisatory forces of bassoon, double bass, Hammond organ and percussion. Their interpretation of rock and metal music breaks new ground for the individual instruments, as well as pushing the players to their limits.

Background

Rick Stotijn studied double bass at the Conservatory in Amsterdam with his father Peter Stotijn, and graduated with the highest distinction. He continued studies with Bozo Paradzik at the Hochschule in Freiburg. He won several first prizes at competitions and was awarded the highest accolade to a musician in the Netherlands; the Dutch Music Prize. According to the jury:

‘Rick is a versatile musician with a moving musicality and an overwhelming virtuosity.’

Amongst the many solo appearances which followed worldwide, was a Carte Blanche series in the Recital Hall of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Rick Stotijn performs regularly as a soloist with orchestras such as the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Phion Orchestra of Gelderland and Overijssel, the Residentie Orkest The Hague, Philzuid, Toulon Opera Symphony Orchestra, Musica Vitae Sweden, Joensuu Symphony Orchestra and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.

Recently, Rick has played as a soloist with the Kölner Kammerorchester and Bochum Symphoniker, and has made a highly appraised recording, Doppio Espressivo with Camerata RCO. According to The Strad,

‘Rick Stotijn’s prowess lies not only in his assured technical fluency but also in his interpretative imagination, tonal diversity and instinctive ability to communicate.’

In the upcoming seasons 2024 to 2026, Rick will continue his soloist role with new and existing double bass concertos of Missy Mazzoli, Peter Eötvös, Gordon Jacob, Jesper Nordin, Richard Dubugnon and a newly commissioned double concerto by Sally Beamish. He will play Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite arranged for solo violin, double bass and strings. Collaborating orchestras will be the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony, Dutch Collective, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Camerata Nordic, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker and the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra. 

Rick was the principal double bass in the Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester Berlin and Amsterdam Sinfonietta and a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He is currently principal in the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Lucerne Festival Orchestra. As guest principal, Rick plays regularly in the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Orchestra Mozart, Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. 

In chamber music, he has worked with Janine Jansen, Christianne Stotijn, Liza Ferschtman, Julius Drake, Cecilia Bernardini, Vilde Frang, Julian Rachlin, Lawrence Power, Tabea Zimmermann, Malin Broman, Simon Crawford Philips, Johannes Rostamo, Lars Vogt, Christian Tetzlaff, Maximilian Hornung, Daniil Trifonov, Alexander Maloveef and many others. Rick is a regular guest at festivals such as the Lucerne Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Marvao Festival, Ojai Music Festival, Delft Chamber Music Festival and the International Chamber Music Festival in Utrecht. 

Rick Stotijn is Professor Double Bass at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf. He performs on a Giovanni Battista Rogeri double bass, generously loaned by the Dutch National Musical Instrument Foundation. 

Download the Press Kit here (updated November 2024).