Both the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the also Royal Concertgebouw seem to be focusing on connection next season. Between young and old, between east and west, between left and right, between culture and press.
'Great that you all came,' says Jan Raes after the presentation of the 2017-18 season. 'The press is under pressure, as is culture,' the Concertgebouw Orchestra director continued. 'We have to help each other.' With a wink: 'If you organise a press conference, we will be there.'
Not long after, Simon Reinink, director of the Concertgebouw, also gives the music journalists present a helping hand: 'We got the lowdown from you because we had never invited conductor Teodor Currentzis. That is why he will be our guest next season.' Just like last week during the presentation of National Opera and Ballet populists' persistent attacks on 'the elite' are parried with humour.
Don't polarize but combine
For the first time, Concertgebouw Orchestra and Concertgebouw scheduled their season presentation on the same afternoon. Not polarising but combining seems to be the motto. This also speaks from both programming. The orchestra organises a monthly concert of chamber music in asylum seekers' centres, the building initiates Turning East, a six-day festival featuring renowned artists from the Maghreb region to deep into the Orient. Arab-American composer Mohammed Fairouz has been recruited as composer in residence.
Both institutions also remain committed to recruiting new and young audiences. Raes shows a video of the successful project Side by Side, in which musicians from youth orchestras are coached by chief conductor Daniele Gatti. Playing with and among the pros of the Concertgebouw Orchestra elevates them to a higher level.
Overcoming Brexit through music
It turns out to be an unforgettable experience for young musicians, far beyond the musical aspect. 'This allows us to unlock music for the younger generation,' says trumpeter Shannon Harper. 'Moreover, we can prove that things like the Brexit can be overcome through music.'
Youth
The Concertgebouw Orchestra has now completed its fourth app for primary school children. Together with pianists Arthur and Lucas Jussen, the Carnival of Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns under its belt. The three previous apps reached 35,000 students in 750 schools. The two brothers are kicking off the 29th edition of the Robeco SummerNights. There are also five family concerts with a thematic slant for children.
Four title conductors at Concertgebouw Orchestra
Bernard Haitink will twice conduct his own Chamber Orchestra of Europe, including in Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder. These are sung by the soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek, artist in residence of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Haitink is one of four surviving title conductors who will conduct the company, alongside Riccardo Chailly and Mariss Jansons. Current chief Daniele Gatti will be heard in all series.
The Building's own programming includes several world premieres. In particular, from current composer in residence Sebastian Fagerlund and from Mohammed Fairouz. Otherwise, the range of modern music does not stop there. The Concertgebouw Orchestra presents four Dutch and three world premieres in the new season. The Hungarian Peter Eötvös, the Frenchman Guillaume Connesson and the Estonian Erkki-Sven Tüür write a new composition for soloists and orchestra.
Female composer conspicuous by her absence
The theme of war and peace runs like a thread through the orchestra's programming. Including works by Sergei Prokofiev, Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Rudolf Escher and Henriette Bosmans. The latter is particularly special, as her music is only rarely performed by the orchestra. From her Doodenmarsch for voice and orchestra, which she composed at the end of World War II.
I asked artistic director Joel Fried about his choices.
Bosmans' Doodenmarsch lasts only about five minutes and is also immediately the only work by a female composer. Even in the Concertgebouw's own programming, the ladies are largely conspicuous by their absence. In short, there is much beauty to be heard, but as far as connection is concerned, in the ratio husband-wife still a world to win.
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