Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, or, as it is often called, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, was founded in 1888, its first concert taking place on November 3 of that year. Concertgebouw means concert hall in Dutch, and the ensemble adopted that name from the lavish site where it has been based since 1888. The building, known for its splendid acoustics, houses a large auditorium (the Grote Zaal) and a small one (Kleine Zaal).
The Orchestra's first conductor was Willem Kes, who enforced a common etiquette on Dutch audiences previously unobserved: eating, late arrivals, and talking during performance were banned. Kes built the orchestra into a fine one, even if it still fell short of world-class caliber. Upon Kes' departure in 1895, the legendary Willem Mengelberg was appointed music director. He would serve for nearly 50 years in that capacity, molding the orchestra into a first-rate ensemble and making many famous recordings with the group.
During his reign Mengelberg took sabbaticals to conduct other orchestras in Europe and America, including the New York Philharmonic. During his absences, other conductors were engaged to serve as substitutes, including Pierre Monteux and Bruno Walter. While Mengelberg was highly respected and his orchestra widely admired, the repertory tended to be somewhat narrow, focusing largely on the Germanic sphere, especially on Beethoven and Richard Strauss. But he conducted works by Gustav Mahler, and the orchestra featured appearances by Rachmaninov and Prokofiev in performances of their works.
During World War II, Mengelberg sided with the Nazis, and after 1945 was banned from conducting the ensemble for six years. That same year Eduard van Beinum was appointed his successor. He broadened the repertory and maintained the orchestra's high performance standards during his 14 years on the podium. He died in 1959 during a rehearsal, and for the next four years, leadership of the orchestra was shared by Eugen Jochum and Bernard Haitink. Haitink was appointed chief conductor in 1963 and served in that capacity until 1988. During his tenure, the orchestra made numerous highly acclaimed tours and recordings.
Haitink's successor was Riccardo Chailly, who further broadened the repertory of the orchestra, and like his predecessors, produced a spate of critically acclaimed recordings. In 2004, Mariss Jansons was appointed conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Today the ensemble consists of 120 players and is widely considered one of the finest orchestras in the world.
© TiVo
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Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto; A Midsummer Night's Dream
Alfredo Campoli, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eduard van Beinum
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Britten: Four Sea Interludes & Passacaglia; Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eduard van Beinum
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 - Schumann: Papillons
Cor de Groot, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Discover Classical Music on 5 sep. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "The Italian" & "Unfinished Symphony" No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759
Symfonische muziek - Released by Sinetone PCA on 8 apr. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Legend: Nathan Milstein, Vol. 3
Nathan Milstein, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Gregor Piatigorsky, Pierre Monteux, Philadelphia Robin Hood Dell Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
Klassiek - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 4 jan. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Jo Vincent
Klassiek - Released by Discover Classical Music on 1 feb. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Symphony No. 33 in B Flat Major, K.319
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Symfonische muziek - Released by Sunday Club Records on 27 jan. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68
Klassiek - Released by Discover Classical Music on 10 jan. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Legendary Conductor: Pierre Monteux, Vol. 4
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Pierre Monteux
Klassiek - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 6 dec. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphony No. 4 in G Major, Op. 88
George Szell, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Symfonische muziek - Released by Sunday Club Records on 12 feb. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Orchestral Suite No.4 in D Major, BWV 1069
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ancien Prodige on 15 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Water Music, Vol. 1
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ancien Prodige on 18 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Orchestral Suite No.3 in D Major, BWV 1068
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ancien Prodige on 15 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Suite No.2 in B Minor BWV 1067
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ancien Prodige on 18 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Water Music, Vol. 2
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ancien Prodige on 18 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C Minor Op.68
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ancien Prodige on 4 apr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Orchestral Suite No.1 in C Major, BWV 1066
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ancien Prodige on 15 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Symphony No. 94 in G Major 'Surprise'
Eduard van Beinum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Symfonische muziek - Released by Sunday Club Records on 2 dec. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo