volume 3 - number 2 - sep 2017
CULTURAL WEEKEND GLOBAL AND BELGIAN FRIENDS ATTEND IN AMSTERDAM It is with great pleasure that we look
back on the cultural weekend for the orchestra’s Friends outside the Nether-
musicians Borika van den Booren (violin) and Maartje-Maria den Herder (cello).
lands, held on 6 and 7 May 2017. It was
Managing Director Jan Raes and Fund-
by Belgian, but also by Global Friends of
gramme at the orchestra’s offices on Sun-
the first such event attended not only the RCO.
The activities on Saturday took place at the Museum van Loon, the former resi-
dence of the van Loon family of Amsterdam regents located at Keizersgracht 672.
Following a word of welcome from Fons
van Westerloo, chairman of the donors’ foundation Stichting Donateurs of the Royal
Concertgebouw
Orchestra,
the
group was given a tour by the museum’s
director and curator Tonko Grever, offering a glimpse of this Amsterdam family’s
life in one of the city’s finest canal houses.
That evening, the guests dined in the museum’s stylish dining room, followed by a
chamber music performance by orchestral
raiser Barbara Ruding kicked off the proday with a presentation on RCO House, the future premises of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, followed by a tour of the building site. The group then lunched
with a number of orchestral musicians, including hornist Laurens Woudenberg who gave an introduction to the concert
that afternoon. The programme featured the Brahms Violin Concerto, which was
given a phenomenal performance by violinist Isabelle Faust and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Beethoven’s
Symphony No. 3 (‘Eroica’), all under the Myung-Whun
Looking back on this successful cultural
hind-the-scenes tour of the Concertge-
for their presence and the support they
direction
of
conductor
Chung. The cherry on the cake was a bebouw.
weekend, we wish to thank our Friends give the orchestra.
RCO PERFORMS IN NEW ELISABETH HALL Thanks to the support of its Belgian
Society of Friends, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra gave a memorable concert on 17 March 2017 in Antwerp’s Queen Elisabeth Hall, which opened its
doors at the end of last year. Many of the orchestra’s Belgian Friends and their guests attended.
Violinist Lisa Batiashvili sparkled in Shostakovich’s
compelling
Violin
Concerto
No. 1. Bruckner’s lively First Symphony
also featured on the programme. At the orchestra’s helm was Polish conductor Michał Nesterowicz.
Before the concert, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour had been organised for our Belgian Friends, followed by a talk on the construction of the new concert hall by Jan Raes and Joost Maegerman, general manager de Filharmonie.
IMPRESSIVE SEASON OPENER WITH STAR SOPRANO DIANA DAMRAU The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
returned to the stage to perform the very
given the opportunity to meet the orches-
festive atmosphere with RCO Opening
Bernstein’s Candide, all under the baton
Diana Damrau in the foyers. The evening
kicked off its new concert season in a Night 2017 on 14 September, with an
audience including many of its Belgian, Swiss and Global Friends. As was the
fitting ‘Glitter and Be Gay’ from Leonard of Thomas Hengelbrock.
After the concert, audience members were
case last year, Her Majesty Queen Máxima, the orchestra’s patron, was also present.
Following the exclusive reception and dinner buffet in the Soloists’ Foyer at the
Concertgebouw, the concert got under way with the Overture to Don Giovanni. Diana
Damrau then shone in her first appear-
ance with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in a number of Mozart arias. After the interval, the programme featured
Dvorˇák’s Symphony No. 8, and Damrau 2
tral musicians, Maestro Hengelbrock and concluded with an after-party in the Recital Hall.
RCO House laying new foundations under the orchestra As many of you know, the Royal Concert-
gebouw Orchestra is getting its very own house. A former school built in 1908 by
committed to supporting the orchestra, including you as one of our Friends.
the prominent Dutch architect Berlage,
SCHEDULING
seumplein, just a stone’s throw from
23 August 2016, many steps have been tak-
the property is ideally located at Mu-
Since the purchase of the property on
the Concertgebouw. With RCO House,
en. In the autumn of 2016, building plans
a dream long cherished by the RCO has become a reality: having its very own space, complete with rehearsal studios and an ensemble venue for educational and chamber music activities.
IMPORTANCE Although orchestral rehearsals are held at
the Concertgebouw, there are no spaces where our musicians can practise individ-
ually or rehearse together. They currently have no choice but to do so at home or in
studios which are often far away and expensive to rent. With the construction of
ten rehearsal studios, RCO House will meet this pressing need.
In addition, RCO House can help us achieve our aims in the areas of education and
chamber music and, crucially, will be a ha-
were drawn up and planning permission requested for renovation, restoration and
development. The municipality of Amsterdam granted planning permission in the
major fundraising campaign to raise the re-
maining €10 million and are truly delighted with the support for RCO House so far. To
date, many new and existing donors and a
number of institutional funds have together pledged over €6 million. The support of
individual donors, foundations and the cor-
porate sector will also be crucial in helping us raise the remaining €4 million.
spring of 2017, which was a major mile-
BUILD WITH US
work began, and the construction of ten
base. Won’t you join us? Why not consider
stone. In the summer of 2017, demolition
Together we’re building our new home
soundproof rehearsal studios, foyers, in-
becoming a donor and help us make this
strument storage and a space for physiotherapy will get under way in the autumn. The next step will involve the restoration
and renovation of the former Berlage school, which will feature a reception room and offices, a soundproof ensemble space
for small concerts, masterclasses, lectures, and educational activities for schoolchildren. We hope to be able to start using the
building by the end of 2018, around the orchestra’s 130th anniversary.
dream a reality? We would be pleased to discuss with you the various options for
making donations to RCO House and enjoying significant tax benefits. Naturally,
you can also opt to support a specific part of RCO House, such as a rehearsal studio, together with of a small group of donors. For more information or to make a
donation to RCO House, please contact Anne Christin Erbe or Barbara Ruding
at a.c.erbe@concertgebouworkest.nl or
ven not only for the orchestra, but also for
FUNDING
House will be a meeting place for all those
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra itself will
RCO staff and the Academy. Finally, RCO
be invest €2.5 million. We have launched a
The total project costs €12.5 million. The 3
b.ruding@concertgebouworkest.nl), or on +31 (0)20 305 10 10.
rco meets europe royal Concertgebouw orchestra continue tour In September, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will be continuing its tour of all twenty-eight EU member states
and also prove that Brexit (and all things like it) can be overcome by music.’
as part of its RCO Meets Europe – Side by
ESSAY CONTEST
is visiting each country and performing
has organised an essay contest for young,
Side initiative, in which the orchestra
To coincide with the project, the orchestra
an opening work with a local youth or-
talented European writers who are invited
chestra.
The RCO has already given concerts in Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Bel-
gium, Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Austria, Slovakia and the UK. Next season, the orchestra will be pursuing the project with performances in the UK, Germany, Belgium, Romania, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic and France.
The tour, which focuses on the power of
music to bring people together and the importance of a multiplicity of voices,
has attracted much international attention and garnered high praise. One of the highlights so far was the orchestra’s performance in London with the National
perience through music can bring people
together. Orchestral music in particular
symbolises the true value of a “polyphonic” sense of diversity.’
lives. Essays by five renowned European
no de Haro, Dave Sinardet, Erna Henni-
6 September 2017
commissioned by the orchestra to help in-
National Youth Orchestra of Germany
sic, classical or otherwise, plays in their
authors – An De Bisschop, Amparo Serracot-Schoepges and Lasha Bugadze – were
Berlin, Philharmonie
spire contestants.
24 September 2017
So far, the orchestra has received sixty-five submissions from young, talented writers. The winners will be invited to
Bucharest, Sala Mare a Palatului
Romanian National Youth Orchestra
spend a cultural weekend in Amsterdam,
14 October 2017
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. In addi-
Zuglói Filharmónia
all expenses paid, including a visit to the
Budapest, Müpa
tion, the best essays will be published af-
20 February 2018
ter the project has concluded.
With RCO meets Europe, the orchestra hopes
experience as follows: ‘I think this tour
ideals which unite Europe and have made
could open up music to younger people …
chestra, says, ‘The shared emotional ex-
RCO MEETS EUROPE concert agenda
to submit an essay on the role that mu-
Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. A trumpet player in the orchestra summed up the
Director of the Royal Concertgebouw Or-
Madrid, Auditorio Nacional de Música Youth Orchestra of Madrid (JORCAM)
to highlight the fundamental ideas and
21 February 2018
it what it is today. Jan Raes, Managing
Gulbenkian
Lisbon, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Orchestra Academy 15 May 2018
Prague, Smetana Hall
Prague Conservatory Symphony Orchestra
17 May 2018
Paris, Philharmonie
students from Pôle Supérieur Paris-Boulogne Billancourt Musicians of the Ljubljana International Orchestra and the RCO following
the concert given on 1 September 2016
4
RCO meets Europe will be entering its final stretch in the autumn of 2018.
RCO launches video platform The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The video productions were recorded in re-
free access to RCO Editions concert re-
chestra itself. Registered users can view,
has launched a video platform offering cordings, interviews and factual films made over the last few years. Now an-
yone anywhere in the world can access the recordings free via the new plat-
form on the orchestra’s website. The
cent years by the Royal Concertgebouw Or-
discontinued at the beginning of 2018.
pause and resume recordings, share them
You can access the video platform at
New concert recordings will be added reg-
To mark the launch, a new RCO Editions
on social media and create favourite lists. ularly to the platform.
platform is compatible with comput-
Since it is now making video recordings
less of operating system.
no longer be producing new RCO Edition
ers, tablets and mobile phones regard-
releases. The RCO Editions app will be
available on its website, the orchestra will
www.concertgebouworkest.nl/nl/video.
recording never before released has just been made available: that of Ottorino
Respighi’s Fontane di Roma, performed on RCO Opening Night 2016.
CALENDAR OF GLOBAL FRIENDS ACTIVITIES 12 October 2017 BOZAR, Brussels
18 January 2018
17 May 2018 Philharmonie, Paris
Iveta Apkalna, organ
Daniele Gatti, conductor
Daniil Trifonov, piano
Peter Eötvös, conductor
László Fassang, Hammond organ
Arnold Schoenberg – Begleitungsmusik zu einer Lichtspielszene
Béla Bartók – Dance Suite
Carnegie Hall, New York Janine Jansen, violin
Max Bruch – Violin Concerto No. 1 Mahler – Symphony No. 1 (‘Titan’)
Daniele Gatti, conductor
Students from Pôle Supérieur Paris-
Boulogne Billancourt, youth orchestra Carl Maria Weber – Overture to Euryanthe Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 3
Igor Stravinsky – Symphony in
18 February 2018
Peter Eötvös – Multiversum
Semyon Bychkov, conductor
To reserve your tickets, please
Bruch – Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra
h.henny@concertgebouworkest.nl.
Three Movements
(commissioned work)
11 November 2017 Frankfurt Daniele Gatti, conductor
Philharmonie, Luxembourg Katia Labèque and Marielle Labèque, piano Shostakovich – Symphony No. 5
Tatjana Vassiljeva, cello
19 February 2018 Philharmonie, Paris
Haydn – Cello Concerto
Katia Labèque and Marielle Labèque, piano
Julia Kleiter, soprano
Mahler – Symphony No. 4 17 January 2018
Carnegie Hall, New York Daniele Gatti, conductor
Wagner – Parsifal: Prelude and Karfreitagszauber
Bruckner – Symphony No. 9
Mahler – Symphony No. 1 (‘Titan’)
contact Henriette Henny at
Semyon Bychkov, conductor
Bruch – Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra Shostakovich – Symphony No. 5
17 March 2018 BOZAR, Brussels Franz Welser-Möst, conductor Beethoven – ‘Grosse Fuge’
Jörg Widmann – Babylon Suite
(commissioned work, Dutch premiere)
SAVE THE DATE 14 september 2018
Beethoven – Symphony No. 5
reduced rate for young FRIENDS In an effort to encourage more
Acknowledgements Global Friends News is published by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
young people to join RCO Glob-
Global Friends designated contact:
al Friends, we have continued
Henriette Henny / +31 (0)20 305 1010
to maintain a reduced rate for
rcofriends@concertgebouworkest.nl
young donors.
Text and editing Marjolein Joosen Translation Josh Dillon
Photos Gerdine Niemans (cover, Van Loon Museum),
Those under forty pay a member-
Henriette Henny (cover, Elisabeth Hall), Mladen Pikulic
ship fee of only €500 a year,
(p2 Opening Night), Marielle Prins (p2 bottom)
Peter Tollenaar (p4 Side by Side left), Renske Vrolijk
instead of €1,500. Interested?
(p4 Side by Side right), Peter Tollenaar (p4 Ljubljana
Please contact Henriette Henny at
International Orchestra and the RCO) Graphic design
h.henny@concertgebouworkest.nl.
Atelier Rene Knip & Rens Martens
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