Now playing: Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita II BWV 2004, Sarabande Ensemble Sei Solo, Live Premiere 25.06.26

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Heide (DE), La Mérindole (FR) – Violinist

RADBOUD
OOMENS

Violin · Chamber Music · Bach

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Radboud Oomens with his violinRadboud Oomens performingRadboud Oomens portrait
02Current Project

Sei solo

Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin, with Four Voices

Since retiring from permanent orchestral duty in 2017, Radboud Oomens has concentrated entirely on realizing a long-held ambition: performing Bach’s six works for solo violin alongside four singers, who add the chorale quotations discovered by musicologist Prof. Dr. Helga Thoene – a violin-and-voice quintet built around a solo repertoire.

Discover Sei solo

Ensemble

  • Radboud OomensViolin
  • Géraldine JeannotSoprano
  • Maximin MarchandCountertenor
  • François Isserel-SavaryTenor
  • Johan RiphagenBass, arrangement

Programmes

  • Sei solo at Christmas

    Sonata in G minor BWV 1001 · chorales and motet related to the Sonata in G minor · Chaconne in D minor BWV 1004

  • Sei solo at Easter

    Sonata in A minor BWV 1003 · chorales, motet and mass related to the Sonata in A minor · Chaconne in D minor BWV 1004

    Sei solo around the Partita in D minor

    BWV 1004: Chorales and vocal partita related to the Partita in D minor · Partita in D minor BWV 1004: Allemanda, Corrente, Sarabanda, Giga, CIACCONA

  • Sei solo at Pentecost

    Sonata in C major BWV 1005 · chorales and motet related to the Sonata in C major · Chaconne in D minor BWV 1004

03The Musician
Close-up detail of a violin body and f-hole.

A life built around the violin.

Born in Breda, Radboud Oomens studied under Professor Herman Krebbers at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam, graduating with the Prix d’Excellence in 1977. A concertmaster before the age of twenty, he later led the Württembergisches Kammerorchester and, from 1984, held a first violin position with the NDR Sinfonieorchester in Hamburg for over three decades. Alongside a distinguished orchestral career, he has built a parallel life in chamber music, teaching, and – since his retirement from permanent orchestral duty in 2017 – in a singular pursuit: Bach’s Sei solo, performed with four voices.

Radboud Oomens was born on 25 August 1953 in Breda. He began violin lessons in 1959 and, by nineteen, was already concertmaster of Het Gelders Orkest, appearing nationally as a soloist on radio and television. His studies with Professor Herman Krebbers at the Sweelinck Conservatorium culminated in the Prix d’Excellence in 1977.

In 1980 he moved to Heilbronn, Germany, to become concertmaster of the Württembergisches Kammerorchester, touring Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 1984 he joined the NDR Sinfonieorchester in Hamburg as first violin – a position, later continued with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, that he held for over three decades until his final concert as a permanent member on 26 February 2017.

Chamber music has run alongside the orchestral career throughout: Trio Lipatti, the founding and direction of Trio Kairos (1991–1999, over 100 concerts), and duo recital work, notably with pianist Irina Kolesnikova since 2003. He has also taught extensively – on simultaneous playing, tutti technique, and audition preparation – at institutions including the Landesmusikakademie Rheinland-Pfalz and the Orchesterzentrum NRW.

Since retiring from permanent orchestral duty in 2017, he has concentrated on Sei solo – Bach’s sonatas and partitas for solo violin, performed together with four singers.

A life in music – the timelineOn orchestral playing
04A Life in Music
  1. 1953

    Born in Breda

    Born on 25 August 1953 in Breda, the Netherlands.

  2. 1959

    First violin lesson

    Begins violin studies with H. Lenaerts in Eindhoven.

  3. 1965

    Grammar school and conservatory

    Begins grammar school alongside his studies at the Conservatorium Amsterdam.

  4. 1968

    Main studies with Herman Krebbers

    Starts his main studies with Prof. Herman Krebbers at the Muzieklyceum Amsterdam.

  5. 1971

    First competition successes

    Wins the Donemus Prize and the City of Amsterdam Prize at the Oscar Back Competition, while also completing his school-leaving examinations.

  6. 1973

    Concertmaster at nineteen

    Appointed first concertmaster of Het Gelders Orkest, appearing as soloist on national radio and television.

  7. 1977

    Prix d’Excellence

    Completes his studies with Professor Herman Krebbers at the Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam with the Prix d’Excellence.

  8. 1980

    Württembergisches Kammerorchester

    Moves to Heilbronn, Germany, as concertmaster – concert tours across Europe, Asia, and the Americas follow.

  9. 1984

    NDR Sinfonieorchester

    Joins the NDR Sinfonieorchester in Hamburg as first violin – a position held for over three decades.

  10. 1991

    Trio Kairos

    Founds and leads Trio Kairos in Hamburg – more than 100 concerts across Germany and the Netherlands.

  11. 2007

    Orchestral pedagogy

    Begins masterclasses on specialised work within the violin section of a symphony or chamber orchestra, audition preparation, simultaneous playing, and tutti technique – at the Orchesterzentrum NRW, the Landesmusikakademie Engers and elsewhere. Member of the critical orchestra of the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin for the further training of young conductors.

  12. 2017

    Final concert, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester

    Closes a permanent orchestral career on 26 February 2017 – Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 under Thomas Hengelbrock, in the newly opened Elbphilharmonie. The start of an intensive chamber music life in various international ensembles, especially in the south of France.

  13. 2026

    Sei solo

    Full concentration on Sei solo – Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas performed alongside four voices, after research by Prof. Dr. Helga Thoene.

05Repertoire

Five centuries, one instrument.

  • J.S. Bach

    Sonatas for Solo Violin I, II & III

  • J.S. Bach

    Partitas I, II & III

  • J.S. Bach

    Sonatas for Violin & Basso Continuo

  • H. Badings

    Capriccio for Violin & Piano

  • B. Bartók

    Romanian Folk Dances

  • L. v. Beethoven

    Sonatas Op. 12 Nos. 1, 2, 3, Op. 47 “Kreutzer” & Op. 30 No. 3

  • L. v. Beethoven

    Romances in G major & F major

  • J. Brahms

    Sonatas Op. 78, 100 & 108

  • A. Corelli

    Sonata Op. 5 No. 5

  • C. Debussy

    Sonata for Violin & Piano

  • C. Franck

    Sonata in A major

  • G. Frid

    Sonata Op. 50 (1955)

  • E. Grieg

    Sonata Op. 45 in C minor

  • O. van Hemel

    Sonata No. 2 (1945)

  • P. Hindemith

    Sonata Op. 11 No. 1

  • L. Janáček

    Sonata for Violin & Piano

  • F. Kreisler

    Danse Espagnole

  • J.-M. Leclair

    Sonata Op. 9 No. 3 in D major

  • T. de Leeuw

    Sonatine (1955)

  • F. Liszt

    Benedictus & Offertorium (Hungarian Coronation Mass)

  • O. Messiaen

    Thème et Variations

  • W. A. Mozart

    Sonatas KV 304, 301, 376 & 526

  • S. Prokofiev

    Cinq Mélodies

  • M. Ravel

    Sonata Posthume

  • M. Ravel

    Tzigane – Rhapsodie de Concert

  • C. Saint-Saëns

    Havanaise

  • C. Saint-Saëns

    Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso

  • A. Schnittke

    Suite in the Old Style

  • F. Schubert

    Grand Duo Op. 162 in A major

  • I. Stravinsky

    Duo Concertant

  • I. Stravinsky

    Suite Italienne

  • G. Valentini / O. Respighi

    Sonata in G major

  • P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42

  • G. Ph. Telemann

    Fantasia No. 6 for Solo Violin TWV 40:19 in E minor

  • E. Ysaÿe

    Sonata Op. 27 No. 3 “Ballade” for Solo Violin

06Orchestral Thinking

“A string section can only become homogeneous through a clear, binding distribution of roles – and a very strong will.”

Radboud Oomens

Orchestra experience

Concertmaster and tutti positions since 1972, across chamber and symphony orchestras of every size.

Tutti playing

A clearly articulated view of how string sections achieve real homogeneity – through role, not just rehearsal.

Audition preparation

Simultaneous playing, solo repertoire, and orchestral excerpts, taught with a working musician’s precision.

Masterclasses

Regular teaching at institutions including the Landesmusikakademie Rheinland-Pfalz and Orchesterzentrum NRW.

Musical communication

How impulses travel through a section – from concertmaster, through desks, to every player’s bow.

07Recordings

Listen.

Duo Recital

Schubert / Brahms / Frid – Grand Duo Op. 162 · Sonata Op. 108 · Sonata Op. 50 · Audio unavailable

Trio Kairos – Debut Recording

Smetana / Shostakovich – Piano Trios · Audio unavailable

Baroque with Variations

Various Baroque Composers – Live recording, concert programme · Audio unavailable

Sei solo – Marseille

J.S. Bach – Sonata in C major BWV 1005 & Chaconne BWV 1004 · Audio unavailable

08Selected Moments

Impressions to explore.

09Concerts

Where the music travels next.

Upcoming

tba

To be announced soon

Past

25 Jun 2026

Église Saint-Michel, Villedieu

Sei solo IV — Partita No. 2 in D minor BWV 1004, with the chorale quotations discovered and edited by Johan Riphagen (world premiere)

France

Ensemble Sei solo

23 Nov 2025, 16:00

Temple Les Oblats, Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence

Sei solo III — Sonata in G minor BWV 1001, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" BWV 4, Chaconne BWV 1004

France

Ensemble Sei solo

22 Nov 2025, 19:00

Temple de Lourmarin, Lourmarin

Sei solo III — Sonata in G minor BWV 1001, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" BWV 4, Chaconne BWV 1004

France

Ensemble Sei solo

21 Nov 2025, 19:00

Église Saint-Michel, Villedieu

Sei solo III — Sonata in G minor BWV 1001, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" BWV 4, Chaconne BWV 1004

France

Ensemble Sei solo

29–31 Aug 2025

Festival Rencontres Inattendues, Tournai

Sei solo II (for Easter) — Sonata in a minor BWV 1003, chorale motets, Chaconne BWV 1004

Belgium

Ensemble Sei solo

3 Nov 2024, 17:00

Temple Les Oblats, Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence

Sei solo I — Sonata in C major BWV 1005, chorale motets, Chaconne BWV 1004

France

Ensemble Sei solo

10Contact

Music continues.

Get in touch