Diederik van Dijk

My name is Diederik van Dijk, and I play the cello—both the modern and the “historical” versions. For my early music performances, I have the privilege of playing a beautiful cello by Johannes Theodorus Cuypers, on loan from the Musical Instrument Fund.

I had been searching for some time for an instrument that would work well across the entire spectrum of my historical performance practice—from Baroque continuo parts to early 19th-century chamber music. This Cuypers cello from the second half of the 18th century offers me exactly what I was looking for: a warm, clear tone across the entire range, clearly articulated bass notes—an instrument that can sing and speak.