Wed, Feb 4, 2026
Our honorary guest conductor Iván Fischer, turned 75 last January and will receive the Concertgebouw Prize in March. In the coming months, he will be at the helm of the Concertgebouw Orchestra several times, with repertoire ranging from Beethoven to Bernstein.
Fischer has been instrumental in shaping the golden sound of the Concertgebouw Orchestra as a guest conductor since 1987. It is with good reason that we appointed him honorary guest conductor a few years ago. One of his 'secrets' is that, as a conductor, he does not fly around the world as a guest conductor, but prefers to form close and long-lasting relationships with a very limited number of orchestras.
This includes the Concertgebouw Orchestra. ‘It has an open attitude when it comes to new ideas, and the musicians are also willing to stick their necks out. I also believe in an orchestra with strong personalities. As a guest conductor, one develops a truly serious bond with an orchestra after two or three decades. Then you know each other through and through.’
In March, Iván Fischer will receive the Concertgebouw Prize. It is the crowning glory of a close relationship with the Main Hall of The Concertgebouw, where he has also given many unforgettable performances with his Budapest Festival Orchestra, including Mahler's Second Symphony during the Mahler Festival last May.
In the coming months, he will visit us three times. In March, he will conduct Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from 'On the Town', violinist/composer Guy Braunstein’s Abbey Road Concerto and a compelling Czech journey featuring works by Dvořák and Smetana. In June, he will return to share his knowledge and experience with four up-and-coming talents during the public Ammodo Conducting Masterclass. And in October, he will conduct our orchestra, reinforced with choir and soloists, in Beethoven's iconic Ninth Symphony at the Ziggo Dome. The audience is invited to sing along in the grand finale!
