Barthold Kujiken

was born in Belgium in 1949. He studied the flute at the conservatories of music in Bruges and Brussels, then continued his studies in The Hague with Frans Vester (flute) and Frans Brüggen (recorder). During this time, he discovered a beautiful old transverse flute, which he taught himself to play.

He concentrated more and more on this instument while at the same time playing a 'normal' flute in an ensemble for avant-gazrde music. He was inspired by the study of old, historical works on performing practice, a practical interest in original instruments in museums, and contact with instrument makers.

Soon he was working with other Baroque specialists: at first with his brothers Sigiswald (violin) and Wieland (violoncello), with Robert Kohnen (harpsichord), and also with Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord), Frans Brüggen (recorder), Lucy van Deal (violin) and the counter-tenor René Jacobs.

Barthold Kuijken is flautist in the Baroque orchesrtra 'La Petite Bande' and teaches flute at the conservatories of music in Brussels and The Hague. Concerts have taken him to most important European cities, to the USA, to Canada, Brasil, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Soviet Union.