Suddenly they are gone: the Dutch Symphony Orchestra's twitter account and facebook page. Searching for the new ***** name also yields nothing. Must have something to do with all sorts of lawsuits. But if you type in nederlandssymfonieorkest.nl, you happily end up at symfonieorkest.nl. Incidentally, if you type in orkestvanhetoosten.nl, that's also where you end up.
Indestructible, that name, it turns out. The merger orchestra acquired that name in 1994, when the then well-read regional daily placed an appeal for people to suggest a new name for the orchestra.
It turned out to be a hit. Especially after the then purely violinist Jaap van Zweden took over as chief conductor, the Orchestra of the East grew into a rock-solid brand. Nothing more to do, you might think.
Cultural entrepreneur Harm Mannak thought otherwise. And just as the Twentse Schouwburg suddenly had to be called Nationaal Muziekkwartier, the orchestra also had to transcend Twente and the East. Dutch Symphony Orchestra, in other words. Then again, it wasn't allowed. Lawsuits, more lawsuits and the end is not yet in sight. Throwing cultural money down the drain, we call it. That the minister already called those involved to account and the former Twentse Schouwburg quickly abandoned the name Nationaal Muziekkwartier in favour of the much better name Wilminktheatre should be a sign.
But perhaps it just stings too much that De Nationale Reisopera did change its name to Nederlandse Reisopera by mutual consent.
Good. So we now have a Symphony Orchestra without a name. And because in the past, a perfect name came from the public, we are asking for your help. What should the Dutch Five Star Orchestra From The East call itself?
Lower Saxony Symphony Orchestra?
Or at least a more British name. After all, the orchestra masters that repertoire to perfection.
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