RCO Corporate June 2015

year 2 - number 3 - june 2015

Just a few seats left for RCO Opening Night There is great interest in the spectacular opening to the 2015–16 season.

Star cellist Yo-Yo Ma is returning after an absence of twenty years, and chief

conductor designate Daniele Gatti will

be leading the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. We’ve created a special option whereby Salon members and partners are given priority for the best seats.

It promises to be a new and highly enriching tradition: on the evening of the season’s first real concert at the Concert-

Two hundred corporate members attend Salon evening The Concertgebouw’s Recital Hall brim-

this ourselves, but it was so fun and re-

Salon and their guests saw two clari-

such an event a few times a year.’

ming with members and partners of De nettists go head-to-head on 28 May. In

laxed. We’d definitely enjoy attending

short, it was the ‘ideal event’.

Young professional

Clarinettists Arno Piters, winner of the

Young Professionals Programme who had

2009 Prix de Salon, and his former stu-

dent Bart de Kater took the ‘battle’ very seriously indeed, performing a theme by

Bach backwards and forwards simultaneously, seeking Contrasts with Bartók, ta-

king the audience on a journey through

American landscapes with music by Copland and flinging cascades of notes at each

other with both the largest and smallest clarinet imaginable. They then won over the entire audience with some very entertaining klezmer music.

gebouw, music lovers will be reunited

with a stylish reception, a dinner buffet

and a very special concert. Sponsors, donors from in and outside the Netherlands,

and subscribers are invited. It’s a great opportunity to catch up after the summer,

make plans and immerse yourself in music of the highest calibre. Tickets cost €245

a piece and include the price of the dinner buffet (hall section 1).

A young lawyer participating in De Salon’s

To register for priority ticket sales,

conducted that same morning said, ‘It

m.musch@concertgebouworkest.nl.

was a lot of fun, but very tough as well. I

found I was “over-conducting” quite a lot,

please contact Maurits Musch at

trying to convey too much detail, whereas

New Salon members

more to the overall outline and leave the

For the new season we would like to

It’s an important lesson – one I can cer-

members: Oyens & Van Eeghen, the

it actually would have been better to stick details to the musicians.

tainly apply in the “real” world as well.

In that respect, an orchestra is a great metaphor.’ All those participating in the

Young Professionals Programme were pre-

welcome the following new Salon caterer Hete Peper, Cocon Vastgoed

Management and our new sponsor Accenture.

sent.

Meanwhile, a number of business

‘It was a great mix of styles,’ said two

Made possible by SGG

Salon

drink after the concert. ‘It was a personal,

Netherlands for having made this evening

Infectious guests invited by a Salon member over a

We would like to thank Salon member SGG

interactive and stylistically varied per-

possible. SGG is the first Salon member to

formance. Plus the clarinettists’ humour was so infectious. We probably wouldn’t

have thought of attending an event like

host a Salon evening in the Recital Hall – an excellent initiative which we hope will quickly gain impetus.

organisations

have

membership

renewed

or

their

partnership.

Rabobank, Biscaya Real Estate, ATP,

Waterland Private Equity and Stek Advocaten are among those continuing to support the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in this way.

Farewell to our maestro Mariss Jansons was visibly moved upon

seeing a very special ‘stagehand’ take to the podium on the evening of his fare-

well as chief conductor. None other than Her Majesty Queen Máxima, patron of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, presented the maestro with his final

bouquet as chief conductor in thanks for eleven very special, happy years.

Many had come specially to thank Maes-

tro Jansons on the evening of 20 March, including many European and American

Friends, sponsors and donors. ‘I think we’ve done some good things together,’

Jansons said in his typically heartfelt and

modest manner, ‘and there have been many beautiful musical moments.’ With a long, last look, he took in the Main Hall one more time. ‘This is a truly great orchestra. Keep supporting it. Please. It is a treasure!’

‘This is a truly great orchestra.

Please keep supporting it.’

Warm The maestro was warmly thanked by the

royal couple and by sponsors. He then went upstairs, where musicians, staff and donors had gathered. After exchanging a warm glance or shaking hands with

all those present, he slipped away. The Mariss Jansons era has come to a close.

RCO wins the Amsterdam Cultural Business Award The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has

won the 2015 Amsterdam Cultural Busi-

ness Award for cultural entrepreneurs.

The œuvre prize was conferred on the orchestra’s Managing Director Jan Raes on 28 May.

‘The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is

an unparalleled institution both in Amsterdam and in the Netherlands when it comes to image, refinement, substance

and conviction, all of which it harnesses to maintain and safeguard its legacy. Indeed, in the world of classical symphony

orchestras, the RCO is one of the very best internationally, setting itself apart by also

focusing on facilitating the creation of new classics,’ said Prof. Cees Dam, a member of the jury.

General Director Jan Raes (left) received the award on behalf of the orchestra, together with percussionist Herman Rieken (right) and director of business affairs & media David Bazen (not pictured here).

2

New TV series about the orchestra A new season of Bloed, zweet en snaren

(Blood, Sweat and Strings), the Dutch reality TV show about the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, is to air soon.

The series will focus on trumpet player Omar Tomasoni, chief conductor Mariss Jansons’s farewell, and the or-

Lulu: where watching and listening coalesce Such exceptional vocal qualities are

required of the soprano singing the

title role that Alban Berg’s opera Lulu is rarely performed. The Royal Concert­ gebouw Orchestra is taking part in this

special opera as part of the Holland Festival.

Music, singing, acting, directing, design, photos and film – just about every concei-

‘The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s [performance of] Alban Berg’s enticing, morose,

twelve-tone music is far from common-

clear voice and profound sense of drama

of the RCO are sure to relish. Under the

direction of the experienced conductor

Lothar Zagrosek, they will be building up to the (anti-)climax for four hours.

July to 27 August.

A new concert series called Blood, Sweat and Concerts has also been planned and

will be televised on Sundays from 7 to 28

June at 10.10 a.m. Both series will subsequently be available on the Uitzending Gemist catch-up service. Enjoy!

only dream of in New York or

The performance also features soprano

harmonies. It’s a challenge the members

on Thursday evenings at 9.10 from 9

notes is of a calibre they can

This fact alone sets this outstanding pro-

place, characterised as it is by unexpected

network will broadcast the programme

decadent and duplicitous

London.’

duction of Lulu apart. The late Romantic,

Daniele Gatti. The Dutch AVROTROS

smoulderingly sweet and spicy,

vable arts discipline has been integrated to create one spectacular performance.

chestra’s chief conductor designate,

Het Parool

Mojca Erdmann, who brings her crystal-

to the production. She will be portraying Lulu’s character without undermining any of its enigmatic qualities. Who exactly is Lulu, anyway?

6, 8, 14, 20, 23, 25 and 28 June at the Stopera, Amsterdam

Omar Tomasoni

Stylish concert given in New York ‘If you can’t come with the full orches-

States, Rudolf Bekink, and the Dutch

cellist; Henk Rubingh, principal of the

could send an ensemble.’ Those were the

present, in addition to such sponsors as

ber of the Donors’ Foundation; violinist

tra, it would be of great value if you

words of a number of American Friends who made possible a chamber music concert featuring just such an ensemble of RCO musicians in New York on 1 May.

consul in New York, Rob de Vos, were

Rudolf Molkenboer (CEO of ING Americas), a New York partner of De Brauw Black-

stone Westbroek and a senior partner of PWC.

second violin section and board memMarijn Mijnders; and principal oboist Lucas Macías Navarro.

That same evening, several music lovers decided to become Global Friends.

Some eighty private donors and sponsors

It was a good mix of US and Dutch busi-

Starting next year, the Royal Concertgebouw

stunning location just off Park Avenue.

whom enjoyed the music performed by

These tours are being made possible by our American

attended the black-tie affair, held at a

The Dutch ambassador to the United

ness people and private donors, all of Gregor Horsch, the orchestra’s principal 3

Orchestra will perform more regularly in New York.

Friends.

Schedule 6, 8, 14, 20, 23, 25 and 28 June the opera Lulu at the Stopera, Amsterdam 19 August SAIL open-air Opening Concert

Academy student and cellist Laure Le Dantec, violist Frederik Boits and violinist Christian van Eggelen (right) at the Mumbai City Museum. Oboist Jan Kouwenhoven, not pictured here, also performed in Mozart’s Oboe Quartet.

In business in India Schubert and Mozart at the Dr. Bhau

Interesting

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra recent-

sponse,’ says chamber music coordinator

Daji Lad Museum. Musicians from the

‘We’re pleased with the enthusiastic re-

ly performed in India for the very first

Lisette Castel. ‘For the orchestra, too, In-

time, where an ensemble made up of RCO musicians travelled with a trade mission from Amsterdam from 25 to 27

March at the request of Eberhard van der Laan, the mayor of Amsterdam. In the mayor’s own words, ‘It was a gift.’

The RCO ensemble performed at an Am-

sterdam Marketing press conference and at the opening of an exhibition at the Co-

bra Museum. The musicians also played at a dinner hosted by Amsterdam’s mayor.

27, 28, 30 and 31 August Lucerne (two performances), Helsinki, Cologne On tour with Daniel Harding 10 September RCO Opening Night with chief conductor designate Daniele Gatti and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, including dinner buffet

dia is interesting. None of the musicians accompanying the delegation had ever been there before.

The trip gave us the opportunity to make a number of contacts, including several

with India’s only symphony orchestra. We

were hugely impressed by their passion for, and belief in, music. Unfortunately,

owing to scheduling constraints, we were

unable to give any masterclasses, as we often do on trips abroad. All the same, the visit was very inspiring.

Daniel Harding

colofon RCO Corporate is a publication of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for its corporate contacts both in the Netherlands and abroad. contact Jan Meddens head of corporate relations & sponsoring T +31 (0)20 305 1010. j.meddens@concertgebouworkest.nl

Tour of Seoul

A special series of concerts in a great city… The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra was warmly

received in Seoul in April, when it performed the complete Beethoven symphonies under the baton of Iván Fischer over four concerts. Prior to these appearances, the orchestra had performed the Beethoven symphonies in Luxembourg.

global partners of the royal concertgebouw orchestra

partners of the royal concertgebouw orchestra

Maurits Musch fundraising and relationship manager, including De Salon T +31 (0)20 305 1010, m.musch@concertgebouworkest.nl