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Our concertmaster Vesko Eschkenazy was scheduled to perform the solo part in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in April 2020. But Covid brought all public life to a standstill. Now we have good news: in December Vesko will finally perform the popular work.

On 25 December, the Christmas Matinee will be broadcast live by AVROTROS. In celebration of its fiftieth year on television, we take a look back at this holiday tradition – which goes back to before the invention of TV – a story full of highlights and some unexpected twists.

Andris Nelson is back with us for Mahler’s Fourth on 17, 19 and 31 December. The soprano Christiane Karg is the soloist in the sublime last movement. “The Fourth is humorous and yet tragic at the same time”.

Our Annual Gala - a festive concert with a reception beforehand and an after-party - returns on Friday 23 January. Jaap van Zweden will conduct the orchestra in colourful music by Wagner and Respighi and will be joined by Leonidas Kavakos for Korngold's cinematic Violin Concerto.

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra invites exceptionally talented young conductors (aged 18–35) to apply for the Ammodo Conducting Masterclass with Iván Fischer, taking place on 23, 24 and 25 June 2026 at The Concertgebouw.

On 7 November 2025, Decca Classics will release the live recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 8, performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Klaus Mäkelä during the 2025 Mahler Festival in Amsterdam. The recording, captured live in May 2025, will be available digitally worldwide, and issued as a physical CD in Japan and Korea to coincide with the orchestra's first Asia tour with Mäkelä.

The Concertgebouw Orchestra congratulates Aurel Dawidiuk on his appointment as General Music Director of Bochumer Symphoniker and Intendant of Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr in Germany, starting from the 2026-27 season.