La Sfera Armoniosa is a world-class baroque ensemble and orchestra and is known for its surprising and pioneering programmes. Besides music by famous composers such as Monteverdi, Händel and Vivaldi, the ensemble also performs lesser-known music that has been distilled from 17th- and 18th-century music prints and manuscripts after extensive research.
Lutenist, artistic director and conductor Mike Fentross and viola da gamba player Paulina van Laarhoven are the founders of La Sfera Armoniosa.
Comittee of Recommendation: Ton Koopman – conductor & musician, Anja Schouten – mayor of Alkmaar, Joop Daalmeijer (media director & journalist)
La Sfera Armoniosa was founded in 1992 by Mike Fentross and Paulina van Laarhoven and focuses on performing music from the 17th and 18th centuries. In a short time, La Sfera Armoniosa developed to a top level ensemble performing on major European festivals and venues receiving raving reviews over many years for a wide variety of projects.
La Sfera Armoniosa has proved tonight that it belongs to the leading baroque orchestras.
Operapoint.com
The ensemble/orchestra consists of a core of eight top instrumentalists: Paulina van Laarhoven (gamba), Lidewij van der Voort (concertmaster, violin), Elise van der Wel (violin), Esther van der Eijk (viola), Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde (cello), Siebe Henstra (harpsichord), Emma Huijsser (baroque harp and recorder), Pieter van Dijk (organ) and artistic leader Mike Fentross (lute). Depending on the works to be performed, the instrumentation can be varied and supplemented by instrumentalists, vocal soloists and choirs.
Partners
Partners of La Sfera are/were De Nederlandse Reisopera, Het Nederlands Kamerkoor, Opera2Day, historian and writer Geert Mak, Zero Dance Company, jazz musician Maarten Ornstein, flutist Kersten McCall (solo flutist KCO), soprano Simone Kermes, soprano Johannette Zomer, soprano Claron McFadden, soprano Channa Malkin, soprano Nora Fischer, soprano Roberta Invernizzi, mezzo soprano Barbara Koselj, mezzo soprano Kadri Tegelmann, countertenor Andreas Scholl, countertenor Maarten Engeltjes, alto Sonia Prina, tenor Marcel Beekman, tenor Jan van Elsacker, tenor Ian Honeyman, baritone Henk Neven, bass Harry van der Kamp and contemporary composers Boudewijn Tarenskeen and Merlijn Twaalfhoven.
Performing at the main European Festivals
La Sfera Armoniosa performed at prominent European festivals and venues such as the Festival van Vlaanderen, Festival d’Ambronay, Haydn Festival Eisenstadt, Philharmonie Essen, Holland Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, Festival Musica Antiqua Brugge, Cremona Monteverdi Festival, Musikfestspiele Potsdam, Bayreuth Barock, Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Amuz Antwerpen and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
Newly discovered music
Besides music by well-known composers such as Monteverdi, Handel and Pergolesi, the ensemble also performs lesser-known music, distilled from old music prints and manuscripts after extensive research.
On the occasion of La Sfera’s first CD (1996) with vocal and instrumental music by the Italian composer Kapsberger, the leading magazine Gramophone wrote: How soon will we hear the enchanting La Sfera Armoniosa again, and what fresh buried treasure will they unearth?
In 2003, Mike Fentross unearthed two early seventeenth-century operas by Francesco Cavalli from the cellars of the Marciana library in Venice. In 2006, La Sfera Armoniosa performed the modern world premiere of Francesco Cavalli’s opera l’Ipermestra under his direction in an anniversary production of the Holland Festival Early Music Utrecht, and in 2008, also under his direction, they performed the modern world premiere of Cavalli’s opera La Rosinda in Potsdam, Vantaa and Bayreuth.
Collaborations: contemporary adventures
La Sfera also enters into collaborations with musicians from other times and musical backgrounds. In 2018, La Sfera played the jubilee concert of the Grote Kerk in Alkmaar (built in 1518) in collaboration with a choir of more than 100 singers and the contemporary composer Merlijn Twaalfhoven. A program with music from 1518 in combination with music by Twaalfhoven.
Earlier, in 2004, La Sfera made a surprising combination of Pierrot Lunaire by Schoenberg with the Combattimento by Monteverdi. In 2011, composer Boudewijn Tarenskeen composed the piece ‘Mi’ for La Sfera, inspired by music by Couperin.
Artistic director Mike Fentross and jazz/world musician Maarten Ornstein created the project ‘Covid files in concert’, a program with singers from different cultures, especially from the countries that were hit hardest by the pandemic, such as China, Italy and England. The singers sang traditional songs in arrangements by Ornstein and Fentross.
For the season 2025-2026 a full length choreography is developed with the upcoming Zero Dance Company which combines contemporary urban dance with the music of early baroque composer and music theorist Michael Praetorius.
Dutch Masters
La Sfera Armoniosa is currently working in cooperation with Challenge Records International on the series Dutch Masters. Music by forgotten Dutch composers from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as Willem de Fesch, Pieter Hellendaal and Count Unico van Wassenaer, are presented to the public on national and international concert stages and on CDs.
Mike Fentross is one of the best theorbo players in the world, and also a conductor of stature...
Opusklassiek
Conductor and lutenist Mike Fentross has largely earned his credits as an early music specialist. He is working all over Europe as a conductor, soloist and basso continuo player and he is professor of lute and basso continuo at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.
In four decades of making music Mike Fentross has been a.o. inspired by performing chamber music with musicians such as Yo Yo Ma, Ton Koopman, Janine Jansen, Marion Verbruggen, Philippe Jarousski, Ann Hallenberg, Lucy van Dael, Andreas Scholl, Skip Sempe and Gerard Lesne. He played many solo recitals, opera productions, recordings and concerts with La Sfera Armoniosa and other leading baroque ensembles.
In 1992 Mike Fentross founded the ensemble La Sfera Armoniosa with Paulina van Laarhoven, which later developed to both an ensemble and an orchestra. In 1994 he won the Van Wassenaer competition in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and in 1999 he debuted as a conductor. He forms a duo with jazz-musician Maarten Ornstein. For their adventurous musicianship and extraordinary collaborations they received in 2022 the prestigious Willem Breuker Price.
Conducting
After studying conducting with Stefan Pas, Mike Fentross conducted in many festivals and concerthalls like the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. the Festival van Vlaanderen, Festival d’Ambronay, Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, Paradiso Amsterdam, Monteverdi Festival Cremona, Festival de Musica Portico de Zamora, Festival Musica Antiqua Brugge, Vantaa Early Music Festival, Bayreuth Barock and Muziekcentrum Vredenburg in Utrecht. For two times he had the honour to conduct in the presence of Queen Beatrix of Holland.
He is a true conductor, not only in his movements, but also and especially in his musical thought, developed and original, which distinguishes him from many of his colleagues who are considered to be ‘primus inter pares’.
La Libre Belgique
Early in his career Mike Fentross won the Van Wassenaer Competition in Amsterdam with violinist Helene Schmitt. Which led to many collaborationsand playing chamber music with musicians as Yo Yo Ma, Ton Koopman, Janine Jansen, Marion Verbruggen, Andreas Scholl, Maria Bajo, Wilbert Hazelzet, Bruce Dickey, Lucy van Dael, Philippe Jarousski, Eduardo Lopez Banzo, Skip Sempe and Gerard Lesne.
As conductor he debuted in 1999 with La Dafne from Marco da Gagliano in a production of the New Opera Academie in Amsterdam. In 2006 he conducted in the presence of Queen Beatrix the modern world premiere from the opera l’Ipermestra from Cavalli in a prestigeous jubilee production from the Utrecht Early Music Festival and in 2008 he conducted a second unearthed Cavalli opera La Rosinda in a production from the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci Potsdam. In 2009 he conducted for the first time in the big hall from the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and in the same year he was musical director in the production Granida performed in the presence of Queen Beatrix.
About his debut as conductor from the Dutch Chamber Choir in 2010 in the Concertgebouw the press wrote: “Conductor Mike Fentross rivalled Caravaggio with the score of the Maria Vespers. His first time conducting the Nederlands Kamerkoor was a resounding success.”
Mike does not only conduct Early Music, in 2004 he conducted Pierrot Lunaire from Arnold Schoenberg. The press wrote: “There was great enthusiasm for Mike Fentross as conductor of a double bill consisting of Monteverdi’s Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda and Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire. Mike Fentross gave a performance of Pierrot lunaire that ‘appeared to come from another planet”
Since the 2010’s Mike made his Austrian debut in the Haydn Festival Eisenstadt with great success in a program with coloratura soprano Simone Kermes, conducted the pre jubilee concert for the Concertgebouw in a program with solists Lucy van Dael (violin), Henk Neven (bariton) and Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor), the Paradiso Orchestra with Beethoven’s Eroica, the Netherlands Chamber Choir in the Purcell’s Fairy Queen and in a Bach- Faure program live broadcast on national radio and curated the Dutch Masters series for Challenge Records highlighting almost forgotten composers from the 17th and eighteenth century.
Mike Fentross is regularly conducting the baroque orchestra and choir of the Royal Conservatory.
In 2009 Mike conducted in the big hall from the Amsterdam Concertgebouw for the first time. About his debut conducting the Netherlands Chamber Choir in the Concertgebouw the press wrote: Conductor Mike Fentross rivalled Caravaggio with the score of the Maria Vespers. His first time conducting the Netherlands Chambre Choir was a resounding success. NRC 2010
He was asked to conduct the pre-jubilee concert for the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in a programme with solo violinist Lucy van Dael and singers Henk Neven and Andreas Scholl. In 2018 he conducted a celebration concert with music from 1518, the 500th birthday of the St. Laurence Church in Alkmaar, in combination with music from the Dutch composer Merlijn Twaalfhoven.
Mike made his Austrian debut in the Haydn Festival Eisenstadt with great success in a programme with coloratura soprano Simone Kermes. He is regularly conducting the Baroque Orchestra and Choir of the Royal Conservatory The Hague and he was invited by Paradiso Orchestra to conduct Beethovens Eroica.
Conducting Opera
As a opera conductor he debuted in 1999 with La Dafne from Marco da Gagliano in a production of the New Opera Academy in Amsterdam. He reconstructed an early 17th century Dutch play with music ‘Granida’ which he conducted in the Amsterdam Schouwburg in the presence of the Dutch Queen Beatrix.
Mike Fentross conducted two operas from Francesco Cavalli that he unearthed from the Marciana library in Venice: again in the presence of Queen Beatrix the modern world premiere from l’Ipermestra in a prestigeous jubilee production from the Utrecht Early Music Festival and a second unearthed Cavalli opera La Rosinda in a production from Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci Potsdam also performed in the baroque theatre in Bayreuth.
With the Netherlands Chamber Choir and his orchestra he performed Henry Purcell’s ‘The Fairy Queen’ and he was leading his orchestra in Monteverdi’s l’Orfeo in a production of the the Reisopera Enschede/Opera2Day. For the Utrecht Early Music Festival he created and conducted a fascinating semi-staged production, a double bill consisting of Monteverdi’s Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda and Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire.
Dance
In 2023 Mike will conduct an exciting program in cooperation with Denden Karadeniz’ Zero Dance Theatre for Maria Tesselschade’s Huwelijksfeest. The cooperation with Zero Dance Theatre will continue in the 2024-2025 season with Terpsichord, Praetorius meets Urban Contempory Dance.
Recordings
Mike played or conducted on almost one hundred cd’s. Both Cavalli opera’s were released on cd. La Rosinda on the label Ludi Musici and La Rosinda on Challenge Records International.
In 2017 he recorded a Henry Purcell cd in the Philharmonie Essen with his orchestra and soprano Johannette Zomer . Specially for this project two copies of the trumpet of Purcell’s trumpet player John Bull were built.
In 2019 and 2021 he conducted and recorded two new programmes as part of a series of cd’s with music of (forgotten) Dutch composers. Concerti grossi by Willem de Fesch, work by Pieter Hellendaal and the ‘Concerti Armonici’ by Count Unico van Wassenaer with his ensemble, the third cd in the series (forgotten) Dutch composers.
Press Quotes
CD Willem de Fesch Concerti Grossi
Opusklassiek.nl 2021
Mike Fentross is one of the best theorbo players in the world, and now also a conductor of stature…Again this De Fesch cd proves the outstanding quality of La Sfera Armoniosa…
Several of the concertos featured here have been recorded in the past, but performances of this calibre make a valuable gesture towards redressing undeserved neglect…
Classical-music.com 2021
During the lockdown in 2021 Mike recorded the second solo cd of his John Dowland trilogy:
Opusklassiek.nl 2021
special repertoire, performed in an extraordinary way and radiating great authority.
About the first cd of the trilogy with newly discovered pieces by John Dowland:
Magazine of the American Lute Society 2019
‘This quietly beautiful recording introduces a fascinating proposition to the listener – and to the “lute world” in general.
CD Henry Purcell Symphony while the swans come forward:
Stretto 2018
A new sound…all the credits here are for Fentross and his wonderful ensemble.
…Interesting to notice that Fentross may have learned a lot from Ton Koopman, but in the meanwhile he searched for his own sound and found it. In particular the string orchestra is fascinating us with breathtaking pianissimi.
Opusklassiek.nl 2018
Concert conducted in the Haydn Festival Eisenstadt with soprano Simone Kermes
Pannonientivi Magazin 2012
The public in the Haydnsaal were delighted by the Orchestra La Sfera Armoniosa and their conductor Mike Fentross…It seemed that the two, Simone Kermes and Mike Fentross, understand each other blindly.
Concert with the Netherlands Chamber Choir in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam
NRC 2010
Conductor Mike Fentross rivalled Caravaggio with the score of the Maria Vespers. His first time conducting the Dutch Chamber Choir was a resounding success.
Opera production La Rosinda from Cavalli in Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci Potsdam also performed at Bayreuther Barock.
MusicalAmerica.com 2009
Fentross’ musical direction is fleet yet detailed, expressive and witty, and his musicians respond with playing of color and flexibility.
Opera production l’Ipermestra from Cavalli in Early Music Festival Utrecht
Trouw 2006
Mike Fentross presented his richly coloured version with dedication and conviction. The still beauty of this Cavalli came to life sometimes mercifully beautiful.
Mike Fentros, conductor and lutenist, is one of the most interesting components of a new generation of Dutch musicians who focus on Baroque music and authentic playing styles.
NRC 2006
Buxthehude Membra Jesu Nostri, Opening concert of the Musica Antiqua Festival in Bruges.
La Libre Belgique 2004 – Musica Antiqua Festival (Bruges) – Buxtehude Mebra Jesu Nostri
Besides a technically perfect performance of his orchestra, his lecture of ‘Membra Jesu Nostri” is tempting for its intensity and its theatricality: Fentross increases the contrasts, uses rubati rarely heard in this repertoire and builds powerful nuances which brings to the music a supplementary dimension of sound.
Schoenberg Pierrot Lunaire/Monteverdi Combattimento
Volkskrant 2004
There was great enthusiasm for Mike Fentross as conductor of a double bill consisting of Monteverdi’s Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda and Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire. Mike Fentross gave a performance of Pierrot Lunaire that ‘appeared to come from another planet’.
La Dafne from Marco da Gagliano, New Opera Academie The Hague/Amsterdam. Conducting debute.
Haagse Courant 1999
The vocal ensembles were stunningly beautiful and were performed under the direction of Mike Fentross with a generous and rich expressivity.
Jacqueline L.M. La Rooy (interim president) studied Labour and Organisational Sociology at the University of Amsterdam. She has worked for many years as Human Resource Manager and Production Manager in the cultural sector (Residentie Orkest, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Cappella Amsterdam, among others). She was manager of La Sfera Armoniosa earlier and joined the board, temporarily as interim president.
Ratna Kroneman (treasurer of the board) Ratna Kroneman is Chief Commercial Officer & Tax Partner EY, and an avid musician. She plays baroque guitar and lute mandora in the Amsterdam Purcell Chamber orchestra. Ratna Kroneman is also treasurer of the board for the Stichting Huub Oosterhuis Fonds.
Hans Visser (secretary) was a journalist and art editor with the Noordhollands Dagblad newspaper and also published in the daily newspapers affiliated with the GPD. He wrote a number of books on the Dutch East Indies/Indonesia. He is also a director and programmer at the Alkmaar Lindegracht Concerts.
Tineke Wolfswinkel (member) is a specialist lawyer and solicitor in corporate law. In her spare time, she is a bass player in several bands.
Ton van de Kieft (member), former alto oboist in the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, was considered one of the most renowned alto oboists of his generation performing several times as soloist including at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam with this orchestra. From 2010-2015, he was orchestra manager of The Netherlands Philharmonic. Ton van de Kieft is still fully active as a conductor with two ensembles, also performing guest conducting in both the symphonic and brass band worlds.
The board of La Sfera Armoniosa Foundation respects the recommendations of the Governance Code for Culture, the Diversity and Inclusion Code as well as the Fair Practice Code. For more information: www.cultuur-ondernemen.nl/governance-code-cultuur, www.codedi.nl, www.fairpracticecode.nl
