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
-
Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Sanctus (Missa solemnis) (Herman Krebbers Edition, Vol. 10)
Herman Krebbers, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on Aug 25, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 5, Te Deum (First Part)
Eugen Jochum, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphonies - Released by Praga Digitals on Apr 1, 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 (Live)
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Jan 5, 2013
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Salzburger Orchesterkonzerte 1958-1968 (Live)
Classical - Released by Orfeo on Jul 31, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Firsova: Piano Concerto
Yefim Bronfman, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Jakub Hrůša
Concertos - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Dec 1, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: The Jazz Album
Ronald Brautigam, Peter Masseurs, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly
Symphonic Music - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: The Symphonies
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Double Concerto / Beethoven: 2 Romances
Henryk Szeryng, Janos Starker, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 31, 1971
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Live)
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Jan 11, 2008
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 (Live)
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Jan 10, 2011
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 / Mosolov: Iron Foundry / Varèse: Arcana
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1994
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Aug 11, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection" (Live)
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Jan 1, 2010
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler 3 / Suite (After Bach)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 1, "Titan" (Live)
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on May 3, 2007
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (Live)
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Jan 9, 2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major (Remastered 2024) (Live)
Willem Mengelberg, Jo Vincent, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Classical - Released by Archipel on Apr 5, 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (Mahler 9)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony Nos. 6 & 7
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Jan 2, 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Roukens: Distorted Fantasia (after J. P. Sweelinck)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Maxim Emelyanychev
Classical - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on May 5, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gustav Mahler : Das Lied von der Erde
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eugen Jochum
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1963
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo