Open-air Concert in NY

Barbara Nissman & Tosca Opdam

In honour of the 750th anniversary and the close ties of the Dutch capital with the New York, the city of Amsterdam is hosting a special event on New York’s waterfront, US pianist Barbara Nissman and acclaimed Dutch violinist Tosca Opdam will combine their talent during a free open-air concert in Manhattan on Wednesday June 18. The sunset performance takes place from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM ET. Both artists play on the deck of the three-masted clipper Stad Amsterdam that will dock at Pier 17, transforming the East River into a floating concert stage — with the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.

The organization of this free open-air concert invites all New Yorkers and visitors to experience this Dutch musical tradition and summer highlight, the Prinsengrachtconcert’, started in Amsterdam in 1981. Since then, the annual concert has featured international stars like Lang Lang, Maxim Vengerov, and Janine Jansen. Barbara Nissman was the first pianist to perform on the canals in 1982. And she will now be the first again during the first-ever international edition of the iconic concert.

Amsterdam & New York

This unique evening is in celebration of the 750th anniversary of the City of Amsterdam. “This event is a unique way to mark Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary while highlighting our deep historical and cultural ties with New York.
It’s a celebration of shared heritage — and shared future,” said a spokesperson for the City of Amsterdam.”

“With this concert, we hope to plant the seeds of a beautiful new tradition — one that honors the bond between our cities through the universal language of music,” said Hans Duijf, founder of the Prinsengrachtconcert.

The stage of the concert is the clipper Stad Amsterdam, a joint initiative of the City of Amsterdam and the world’s leading talent company, Randstad. During its ongoing world tour, the City of Amsterdam is hosting a program that promotes economic inclusivity and addresses urban challenges, bringing together policymakers, young talent, and entrepreneurs to share ideas, spark innovation, and reflect on shared histories. The concert takes place during the stopover in New York, part of its world tour, which started in 2023 and will end with the return to Amsterdam in August this year.
“Inspiring connections are at Randstad’s core. We look forward to helping bring such a special event here and unite New Yorkers with an evening filled with beautiful music,” said
Sander van ’t Noordende, CEO of Randstad.