Stories

Queen Máxima has been the patroness of the Concertgebouw Orchestra since 2005, when she followed in the footsteps of Prince Claus, who had passed away three years earlier. Since then, she has been a frequent guest of the orchestra, both in the audience and behind the scenes. Read more about the involvement of our patroness.

Since 23 August Dutch digital travel platform Booking.com is collaborating with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra as global partner (main sponsor). Together with the current global partners, ING and Unilever, Booking.com will support the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s ambition to open up the world of classical music to a wide and diverse audience.

Klaus Mäkelä performs his first concert as our artistic partner on 19 August. As part of the VriendenLoterij Summer Concert series, he will conduct Kaija Saariaho’s Orion and Gustav Mahler’s Sixth Symphony.

Every year De Salon, the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s business club, awards the Prix de Salon to an orchestra member with a special musical plan. With the prize sum of €7,500, musicians can carry out projects that stimulate their own musical development and that of colleagues. How do the recent winners look back on their winnings?

Our beloved honorary conductor Bernard Haitink died on 21 October 2021. After sharing a rich history spanning sixty-five years, we can rightly speak of the end of an era. In order to show gratitude for his exceptional merits for the orchestra we present a memorial concert on Sunday 6 February 2022, dedicated to Bernard Haitink.

How did Willem Mengelberg conduct the orchestra – and what did his voice sound like? Watch unique film footage from the 1930s.

Tête-à-têtes during rehearsals, on tour with the orchestra, and encounters with legendary musicians and conductors. View the images.

Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951) succeeded Willem Kes as principal conductor in 1895. For fifty years Mengelberg stood at the helm of the orchestra and was of great significance for music culture in the Netherlands.

It all started when his grandmother gave him a violin. Now, too, the special instrument the our orchestra's leader Vesko Eschkenazy plays is of great significance to his life and career.

Even in times of social distancing, the Concertgebouworkest and PwC have remained close. A conversation with Marc Diepstraten (Member of the Board of Management, PwC Netherlands) and Mariëlle Krouwel (Director of Corporate Marketing & Communications, PwC Netherlands).

A video featuring some of the orchestra’s musicians performing in a KLM Cargo aircraft has been made to promote the orchestra’s 2019 US tour. Our thanks to our corporate partner KLM!

‘It was like a final chord for us – we wanted to do something important one last time.’ The married couple Berthie and Dick van Lith established a commemorative fund in support of the Concertgebouw Orchestra musicians.

‘Building relationships based on a common goal – that’s what I enjoy.’ Nicole van Det is senior managing director at the consultancy firm Accenture. Here she talks about her company’s partnership with the Concertgebouworkest: ‘A common goal might well take the form of a business project, but it’s that much more satisfying when there’s a social objective.’

Speaking about the importance of music education in schools, Frank and Liesbeth Schreve explain why they want to contribute to creative forms of music education through their commemorative fund.

‘Culture is the bridge that should be blown up last’ is a statement Renée Jones-Bos, former Dutch ambassador to the US, likes to quote when talking about international artistic and cultural exchanges.