Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (in Dutch: Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, or RFO) primarily serves a domestic radio and concert market; its website is exclusively in the Dutch language. The orchestra, however, has served as a career stop for some of the world's top conductors, and it has embarked on high-profile international recording projects.
The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic was founded in 1945 by Albert van Raalte, a veteran Dutch conductor who had been fired from his posts after the Nazi takeover of the Netherlands. Later conductors included Paul van Kempen, future Concertgebouw Orchestra conductor Bernard Haitink, Jean Fournet, Willem van Otterloo, Hans Vonk, Sergiu Comissiona, future Milwaukee Symphony music director Edo de Waart, and future New York Philharmonic music director Jaap van Zweden. Since 2012 the orchestra's chief conductor has been Markus Stenz; American conductor James Gaffigan has been principal guest conductor since 2011.
The orchestra has been headquartered in Hilversum, where most Dutch broadcasting operations are situated. In 2010 the orchestra, along with the other arts activities of Radio Netherlands, was threatened with defunding by the Dutch government; some funding was restored after public protests and strong advocacy from Haitink, who has been named the orchestra's patron. The orchestra remains under the umbrella of the Netherlands' public broadcasting system, offering such regular series as the NTR Saturday Matinee. A unique feature of the orchestra's management is the strong input of the radio network's Broadcasting Music Center into programming. It also participates in operatic performances.
The orchestra is noted for its advocacy of contemporary music, with a number of world premieres to its credit. Under van Zweden, the orchestra made its debut at the BBC Proms in 2012. In the 1970s and 1980s the orchestra made internationally popular recordings for Decca under Leopold Stokowski and Antal Dorati. Recent recording projects have included a cycle of Shostakovich symphonies under conductor Mark Wigglesworth and one of the symphonies of Bruckner, led by van Zweden and released on the Netherlands' Challenge Records label.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Beethoven
Alice Sara Ott, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Karina Canellakis
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 28 Jul 2023
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
Karina Canellakis, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by PentaTone on 28 Apr 2023
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Der Nächtliche Wanderer | Abschied
Reinbert de Leeuw, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Edo de Waart
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 2 Jun 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner No. 7 (Live)
Bernard Haitink, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 1 Oct 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1-15
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, The BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Mark Wigglesworth
Classical - Released by BIS on 4 Jun 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Murail : Le partage des eaux, Contes cruels , Sillages
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre-André Valade
Symphonic Music - Released by AEON on 21 Apr 2015
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven
Alice Sara Ott, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Karina Canellakis
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 28 Jul 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf; Lieutenant Kijé / Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
Sean Connery, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
De Raaff: Orphic Descent (Live)
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Robin de Raaff
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 5 May 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roukens: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra "In Unison": Neon Toccata
Lucas Jussen, Arthur Jussen, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Karina Canellakis
Classical - Released by Universal Music, a division of Universal International Music BV on 11 Mar 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Symphony in C Major, Tristan und Isolde, Siegfried Idyll
Edo de Waart, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 25 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Honegger: Pacific 231
Jean Fournet, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Denon on 9 Apr 1996
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Willem Jeths: Requiem
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, James Gaffigan, Willem Jeths
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 12 Mar 2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Jean Fournet, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Denon on 31 Aug 1993
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Tell-Tale Heart (Live)
Juliane Banse, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Tasmin Little
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 4 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Anatole Fistoulari
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gordon Getty: Beauty Come Dancing
Netherlands Radio Choir, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, James Gaffigan
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by PentaTone on 17 Aug 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Der Ring - Tristan und Isolde - Parsifal / Orchestral adventures
Classical - Released by Challenge Classics on 1 Oct 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roukens: Silent Echoes
Lucas Jussen, Arthur Jussen, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Karina Canellakis
Classical - Released by Universal Music, a division of Universal International Music BV on 29 Apr 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn Violin Concertos
Ruggiero Ricci, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Jean Fournet
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto; Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto; Swan Lake (Ruggiero Ricci: Complete Decca Recordings, Vol. 8)
Ruggiero Ricci, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Jean Fournet, Anatole Fistoulari
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on 8 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo