Any classical music on Holland America Rotterdam?

[cdales]

After a disastrous 3 week Hawaiian Holland America cruise last April (we spent almost 2 weeks confined to quarters with Covid), we're tentatively booked on a HAL transatlantic sailing in October. If you traveled on the Rotterdam recently, would you share your experience with on board entertainment? In the wake of the demise of the wonderful Lincoln Center program, I'm especially interested in knowing whether any classical music has found its way back onto the ship. 

[Ottawa traveller]

I just got off the Rotterdam. There was no classical music that I saw on the program.

[Ready2go11]

I am currently on the Oosterdam TA and they debuted classical music in the form of the Chordial Chamber Trio. 
 

I found them to be quite good. Over the 2 week trip they performed two Matinees and two main stage shows. I think this is how they are bringing classical music back after the contract with LCS ended. 

[Kay S]

I'm encouraged that they are doing some classical music on some ships, but I wish it were a more consistent thing.

[POA1]

The entertainment for the Rotterdam will be different for the European season. We had Island Magic over Easter. They were excellent, but they're done now until the Caribbean season starts in the fall.

 

This page should answer your questions.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/news/2024/April/news-041124-holland-america-line-announces-new-entertainment-lineup-fleetwide

 

 

 

 

Edited April 17 by POA1

[SeeSun&Sea]

Chordial played classical music, for ~30 minutes, on the Rotterdam World Stage on 23 April and will return every 3 days. Good music, well practiced, interesting transcriptions to piano trio. Success!

[ORTravelGal]

We just got off Rotterdam today following our transatlantic crossing to Rotterdam from Fort Lauderdale. As @SeeSun&Sea mentioned above, Chordial Chamber Trio was onboard and they were great.

 

HAL really stepped up the entertainment on this trip. It appears they are listening to guest feedback and working hard to deliver a better experience (one that was more in line with the pre-Covid experience.)

 

I was quite pleased. 

[EVNKEEL]

We’re still on the Rotterdam, doing 21-day collectors voyage (crossing from Lauderdale and back-to-back 7-day roundtrip from Rotterdam thru fjords to Shetland Islands and Edinburgh).

The classical trio boarded in Ponta Delgada and played twice in the theater before the end of the crossing. On this 7-day segment they will also play twice in the theater (same program)  and then transfer to the N.Statendam.  Not sure if a new trio will come onboard. 
 

Seems like HAL has commissioned 25 pieces of classical music for special trio ensemble performances. Hope it is eventually rolled out simultaneously to all ships.

 

Still disappointing not to have any live music in the Ocean Bar for pre/post dinner during crossing. They have art work on easels where the quartet played on this ship on the  October 2023 crossing from Amsterdam to Lauderdale. 
 

Also, there is only 1 piano in the Billboard on Board, instead of the previous two piano players. 

Finally, first time we sailed with a DJ on a crossing ….

 

[Petronillus]

On 4/24/2024 at 2:08 AM, SeeSun&Sea said:

Chordial played classical music, for ~30 minutes, on the Rotterdam World Stage on 23 April and will return every 3 days. Good music, well practiced, interesting transcriptions to piano trio. Success!

 

57 minutes ago, EVNKEEL said:

The classical trio boarded in Ponta Delgada and played twice in the theater before the end of the crossing. On this 7-day segment they will also play twice in the theater (same program). . . . 

Seems like HAL has commissioned 25 pieces of classical music for special trio ensemble performances. Hope it is eventually rolled out simultaneously to all ships.

 

I'm glad to hear positive reviews of the new format purportedly replacing Lincoln Center Stage, but I will remain skeptical until I get to experience it for myself. A 3-piece combo playing classical music (or, more often, transcriptions of pieces originally composed for a larger group) is commonly referred to as a chamber music ensemble. There is  reason chamber music is performed in smaller settings and not in symphony halls.

 

The World Stage, at least on the Signature- and Pinnacle-class ships, is akin to a symphony hall. It's a matter of scale. The saddest thing, in my estimation, is that HAL made a sizable investment in building out and dedicating a space to share between BB King's and LCS, which it took great pains to design for optimal acoustics, and even equipped with a Steinway grand piano, and then abandoned. As a passenger I'm disappointed. As a shareholder I'm appalled.

Edited April 30 by Petronillus
better clarity

[EVNKEEL]

8 hours ago, Petronillus said:

 

I'm glad to hear positive reviews of the new format purportedly replacing Lincoln Center Stage, but I will remain skeptical until I get to experience it for myself. A 3-piece combo playing classical music (or, more often, transcriptions of pieces originally composed for a larger group) is commonly referred to as a chamber music ensemble. There is  reason chamber music is performed in smaller settings and not in symphony halls.

 

The World Stage, at least on the Signature- and Pinnacle-class ships, is akin to a symphony hall. It's a matter of scale. The saddest thing, in my estimation, is that HAL made a sizable investment in building out and dedicating a space to share between BB King's and LCS, which it took great pains to design for optimal acoustics, and even equipped with a Steinway grand piano, and then abandoned. As a passenger I'm disappointed. As a shareholder I'm appalled.

Totally agree with Petronillus; the chamber music ensemble is a start but falls short with only two performances on a 14-day crossing and now a 7-day voyage. Classical should be a daily feature of HAL’s “Music Walk” offering. Pre-Covid and LCS, there was Adagio on every sailing - violin and piano, with several daily performances.

 

 

[Navybikermom]

1 hour ago, EVNKEEL said:

Totally agree with Petronillus; the chamber music ensemble is a start but falls short with only two performances on a 14-day crossing and now a 7-day voyage. Classical should be a daily feature of HAL’s “Music Walk” offering. Pre-Covid and LCS, there was Adagio on every sailing - violin and piano, with several daily performances.

 

 

I miss the Adagio… 😢

[Petronillus]

50 minutes ago, Navybikermom said:

I miss the Adagio… 😢

I enjoyed them too. They were invariably a gracious bunch of young people who played at a craftsmanlike level. But, honestly, they were nowhere near the caliber of the Lincoln Center Stage artists. Now that LCS are no more, would I be happy to hear the Adagio Strings again? Not deliriously so, but happy enough.

[Lynn@ECGA]

The LCS assemble was absolutely the best offering that HAL had as far as music and entainment went. The other offerings in the Rock & Roll lounge  were loud, crowded, hot and uncomfortable. The paino players were not great but drew a crowd depending on what the venue was.  Last cruise (Nov TA) the LCS players gave 2 performances in the MS which was standing room only both nights. One day time performance likewise. Have not heard the new group but look forward to something a bit more cultured.  

[jeh10641]

I, too, am a longtime fan of classical music. I hope HAL reads and listens to those of us who wish it to return full time on HAL.

Jim

[pmjnh]

We just disembarked the Noordam and had a wonderful classical trio . Piano, violin and cello. It was nice to see this again

[FlaMariner]

Classical music was alive and well on our Oosterdam cruise last month.....There was a group that played in the main stage as well as around the ship....

 

It's not branded Lincoln Center Stage anymore ($$$) but it was classical music and had a much bigger stage than before....and seemed to play more often around the ship.

[foodsvcmgr]

Fingers crossed this becomes the new norm rather than the exception.

[Petronillus]

4 hours ago, pmjnh said:

We just disembarked the Noordam and had a wonderful classical trio . Piano, violin and cello. It was nice to see this again

Where did they perform? At what times? Under what name?

 

1 hour ago, FlaMariner said:

It's not branded Lincoln Center Stage anymore ($$$) but it was classical music and had a much bigger stage than before....and seemed to play more often around the ship.

I can't deny that Lincoln Center is a valuable brand, but I don't really understand its marketing value. It's just a venue comprised of multiple facilities housing multiple performing ensembles -- the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the Juilliard School, and others.

Juilliard might be a promising alternative for HAL to consider. For room, board, and a stipend, senior-level students would serve a resume-enhancing apprenticeship, and could be bunked two to a cabin.

[FlaMariner]

28 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

I can't deny that Lincoln Center is a valuable brand, but I don't really understand its marketing value.

 

No branding needed to play Beethoven.......I think HAL got their money's worth getting folks excited about "Lincoln Center Stage" when they rolled out "Music Walk" and then stopped paying the branding fee when they realized they could still deliver great classical musical.....

[pmjnh]

51 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

Where did they perform? At what times? Under what name?

 

@Petronillus  They played in the Explorers cafe at 3PM, 4 PM and 7 PM just under the name of "Classical Trio". Most 7 PM performances were standing room only . That spoke volumes to HAL, hopefully.

Edited May 7 by pmjnh

[jeh10641]

On 5/7/2024 at 9:03 AM, Petronillus said:

Where did they perform? At what times? Under what name?

 

I can't deny that Lincoln Center is a valuable brand, but I don't really understand its marketing value. It's just a venue comprised of multiple facilities housing multiple performing ensembles -- the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the Juilliard School, and others.

Juilliard might be a promising alternative for HAL to consider. For room, board, and a stipend, senior-level students would serve a resume-enhancing apprenticeship, and could be bunked two to a cabin.

I like that idea. Even if there was no "branded" name attached, I would be happy.

Jim

Edited May 8 by jeh10641
Missing word

[DTtravelers]

It was way better than branded: they were given free reign to play whatever they wanted.  We were introduced to new composers/compositions, and they took the time to tell us a bit about the pieces, and what to listen for.  It was Explorer's Lounge.  A nice quiet location.  They played the same set at 3:00, 4:00 and 7:00, so if you missed, you could come by later (or come by again!).

 

They were all outstanding musicians.  They are called DUo2O, and you can find them on the internet to see what a treat we had.  We were blessed to have Eleanor on Cello. 

 

Note that this was 25 day trip.

 

 

Edited May 11 by DTtravelers

[CT D&N]

On 4/16/2024 at 11:15 PM, Ready2go11 said:

I am currently on the Oosterdam TA and they debuted classical music in the form of the Chordial Chamber Trio. 
 

I found them to be quite good. Over the 2 week trip they performed two Matinees and two main stage shows. I think this is how they are bringing classical music back after the contract with LCS ended. 

On the Nieuw Statendam now and the Chordial Chamber Trio is also onboard with the same offerings.

[Kay S]

3 hours ago, CT D&N said:

On the Nieuw Statendam now and the Chordial Chamber Trio is also onboard with the same offerings.

This is good news.

[cruisemom42]

On 5/7/2024 at 12:34 PM, FlaMariner said:

I think HAL got their money's worth getting folks excited about "Lincoln Center Stage" when they rolled out "Music Walk" and then stopped paying the branding fee when they realized they could still deliver great classical musical.....

 

My question would be whether they are getting "great" classical music or "merely good". I mean, I'll take merely good over nothing, but the LCS players were great. 

 

The two classical groups I've experienced on Oceania in the last year were not as good as the LCS group on HAL...