November 2015 - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

volume 1 - number 1 - november 2015
Daniele Gatti
Her Majesty Queen Máxima, Yo-Yo Ma, and general director Jan Raes
Global Friends enjoyed the very first Opening Night in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s history, given on 10 September. Led
by the orchestra’s chief conductor designate Daniele Gatti, the concert also featured star cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a performance of
Dmitry Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. Her Majesty Queen Máxima, patron of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, joined in
the festivities.
In East Asia
Performing for music lovers
Right after being appointed principal
thing, but playing for colleagues in an
Maistre went on a tour of Taiwan and
stressful. That’s why I really had to pre-
double bassist, Pierre-Emmanuel de
Japan with the orchestra in November.
‘Performing for audiences in Japan was
really special,’ he says.
audition setting is actually much more
pare myself mentally beforehand. And it
paid off. I felt good on the day, and am so
happy that I won it.’
There were several reasons Pierre-Emma-
Inspirational
It was his first tour as principal double
man says he was very excited to be able to
nuel de Maistre so enjoyed the experience.
Now at the head of his section, the French-
bassist, a position he obtained after only
play alongside Dominic Seldis. ‘That was a
two years with the orchestra. Auditions
are never easy, Pierre-Emmanuel says. ‘I
tried to be as relaxed as possible. Audi-
tioning for people you don’t know is one
fantastic experience. Sitting next to him is
truly inspirational. I’m really looking forward to working with him in the future.’
Audience
‘We were given such a warm welcome in
Japan. You can feel that Japanese audiences love the orchestra. Concert goers are
so respectful – of both the music and the
musicians. You could feel their concentration: such good energy, good spirit. It
makes you perform better. Plus their con-
cert halls – like Muza Kawasaki, or SuntoPierre-Emmanuel de Maistre
ry Hall in Tokyo – have incredible acoustics. I really liked playing there.’
Gustavo Gimeno
This was the second time that former
percussionist Gustavo Gimeno conducted the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
‘It was my first time,’ says Pierre-Emmanuel de Maistre, ‘because I was off back
in 2014 when he stood in for Mariss Jansons, the orchestra’s chief conductor at
the time. You could see that all his former
colleagues highly value him. There was a
good connection between him and all of
us. He’s charismatic and gave good energy in all the concerts. Particularly the
last concert in Suntory hall in Tokyo was a
special experience, and you could feel the
atmosphere.’
Thank you for holding many concerts
in Japan! I went to the concert in Na-
goya, it was so impressive that my tears
sometimes flowed out from my both
eyes. Many orchestra friends in my
university days went to Muza Kawasaki
and Suntory hall in Tokyo and they all
said “ Amazing!!” “ So excited !! I can
not sleep...” in their facebook.
reaction on our Facebook page
Jeroen Bal, Marc Daniël van Biemen, Vilém Kijonka Nicolas Schwartz Jérôme Fruchart at a concert at the residence of the Dutch ambassador in Paris, 2014.
Music without borders
Inge van Verschuer is having a won-
chestra before but haven’t heard it live.
which gives young talent the chance to
her husband have lived for the last five
lovers, and you see them get goose pim-
that the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
derful time in Paris, where she and
years. Yet both are still involved with
the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,
as Global Friends and as sponsors. Inge
says, ‘Everyone should know what a fantastic orchestra the Netherlands has.’
‘Even as a student,’ says Inge, ‘I was an
avid listener of the Royal Concertgebouw
Orchestra and always loved to see it per-
form. I happen to play the piano myself.
Some of them are devoted classical music
ples. Philip, too, is a music lover, and he
firmly believes that music can take the
Stolen moments
tact. Not to mention that the RCO, with
by the orchestra here in Paris – there was
that of ordinary, day-to-day business con-
‘We’ve seen so many first-rate concerts
its golden, perfectly balanced sound, is
Lang Lang in 2012, the arrival of the then
a world-class orchestra. It’s so special. It
makes you feel at home even when you’re
outside the Netherlands.’
Red carpet
en France, which has since merged with
If you love music, it doesn’t matter where
a few others founded the Cercle des Amis
‘Becoming a Global Friend is a great idea.
Global Friends. Music has no borders, and
you live. The Opening Night last Septem-
certgebouw Orchestra performs works by
new composers such as Henri Dutilleux,
as well as familiar ones by Bruckner. I like
the combination of young and old. It’s so
moving, for example, to see and hear how
the more experienced members of the orchestra are passing on the musical tradition to younger generations.’
Loyens & Loeff
‘My husband Philip van Verschuer works
for Loyens & Loeff, a firm which sponsors
the orchestra back in the Netherlands.
Here in Paris, too, he’s continued that
ber, which so many Global Friends attended, is a perfect example. It was such a fantastic evening, with the reception in the
Recital Hall before the concert and the in-
Princess Máxima, and the Bruckner con-
cert with Mariss Jansons, who was then
chief conductor, in April 2014. One of
France’s severest critics wrote in Le Fi-
garo that that last performance was like
listening to “moments stolen from eternity”. The French may not always think we
Dutch northerners are that refined, but
after a concert, they’re stupéfaits! I en-
joy being involved. Here’s to another 125
years!’
troductions. For the Global Friends among
us, it really felt like the red carpet treatment! The concert, which featured cellist
Yo-Yo Ma, was incredible. Global Friends
also have priority when purchasing tickets to RCO concerts in their particular
city. Sometimes, when receptions are organised, you get to meet the musicians
afterwards, when they’re all so relieved
they’ve pulled it off again.’
support by organising special evenings
Young talent
many of whom may have heard of the or-
things like the Academy of the orchestra,
to which he invites his corporate clients,
has such an appeal to young musicians.’
client relationship to a level higher than
When we moved to Paris in 2010, we and
neither does the orchestra. The Royal Con-
gain orchestral experience. It’s nice to see
‘The proceeds of contributions go to
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Philip and Inge van Verschuer
Special
house concert
in France
on 4 June 2016
Exclusively for Global Friends, an en-
semble made up of musicians from
the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is
giving a performance near Nice, in the
south of France, on Saturday, 4 June.
The Academy welcomes
seven young talents
Seven new Academy students embarked
at the very highest level,’ says Wouter Steijn,
discovery in September. As such, they’ll
tion of the RCO.
on a year-long journey of learning and
be playing in the Royal Concertgebouw
Hornist Martijn Appelo (Netherlands),
chestra and giving chamber music con-
Poghosyan (Armenia), cellist Boris Nedi-
certs. The Academy is made possible
exclusively by support from donors.
New this season are lessons in improvisation, of which the Academy students have
just had their first session. ‘The Academy
offers musicians from all over the world
the perfect opportunity to gain experience
like to attend, please send an e-mail to
[email protected].
outgoing director of the donors’ founda-
Orchestra, taking lessons with musi-
cians of the Royal Concertgebouw Or-
Mark your calendars now! If you would
violinists Alexa Farré (Spain) and Lilit
alkov (Bulgaria), flautist Joséphine Olech
(France), double bassist Benjamin Ziai
(France) and violist Sofie van der Schalie
(Netherlands) are all enjoying these new
RCO Global Friends
Music lovers are everywhere. Just for
you, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has
founded the Global Friends. Global Friends will
receive two tickets to the exclusive annual
experiences. After all, ‘if you’re not enjoy-
RCO Opening Night at the Concertgebouw
very much,’ said Sofie van der Schalie at
priority when booking tickets to performances
ing yourself, chances are you won’t learn
the beginning of the season.
in Amsterdam : 9-9-2016. You are also given
of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in
your country, you may attend rehearsals
and are eligible for discounts on
RCO Live CDs and DVDs.
Your contribution (of at least €1,500
annually) allows the orchestra to undertake
international concert tours, enables the
musicians to acquire top quality instruments
and supports the Academy, the orchestra’s
international young talent programme.
Please check our website for information
about tax deduction in your country:
www.rcofriends.com
Acknowledgements
The orchestra gave its last concert here in 2013.
The orchestra travels to New York
Many Global Friends are already very excited that the Royal Concertgebouw
Orchestra will be performing in New York once a year for three consecutive years.
Starting in 2016, the entire orchestra will be performing in this cultural Mecca, and
you can be there to hear it.
5
Global Friends News is published
by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Global Friends designated contact:
Henriette Henny / +31 (0)20 305 1010
[email protected]
Text and editing Irene Bloemink / Translation Josh Dillon
Photos Anne Dokter (Opening Night, Daniele Gatti),
Renske Vrolijk (Academy)
Graphic design Atelier Rene Knip & Rens Martens