The Castello Consort is a young ensemble that specializes in the historically informed performance of 17th-century music. The ensemble consists of four instrumentalists: Elise van der Wel (violin), Matthijs van der Moolen (sackbut), Anne-Linde Visser (violoncello) and Henriëtte Wirth (organ). This core is regularly expanded with other instrumentalists and/or singers, to fit the specific needs for each project.
Recently, the Castello Consort performed concerts during the Internationale Händel-Festspiele in Göttingen (DE), Beverley Early Music Festival (UK), Festival d'Ambronay (FR), Festival Barocco è il mondo (IT), BRQ Festival (fringe) in Vantaa (FI), Kongsberg International Organ Summer (NO) and in the Fabulous Fringe series of the Utrecht Early Music Festival (NL). Furthermore, they featured in prominent concert series in the Netherlands, such as Musica Antica da Camera and Kasteelconcerten.
In 2017, the ensemble was selected for the prestigious Eeemerging scheme, a programme supporting a small selection of the most promising young, European early music ensembles within the framework of Creative Europe. As part of this programme, the ensemble was invited for residencies at the NCEM in York (UK) and Ghislierimusica in Pavia (IT).
The members of the Castello Consort met as students in the early music department of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague (NL). Their dedication towards 17th-century repertoire naturally results in the use of period instruments (or accurate copies), as well as the choice of specific tunings/temperaments (a’=466Hz, ¼-comma meantone) and further research into articulation, phrasing and other aspects of playing that distinguish this repertoire from other musical styles.
The ensemble has also participated in educational projects. One example is 'Of Shoes & Ships & Sealing Wax', a project and performance in the Beverley Minster (UK), which involved 200 pupils from schools in Beverley and Hull.
