Netherlands Student Orchestra plays Berlioz, Fadael and Walton

Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Bruckner and Messiaen

Anton Bruckner was a deeply religious organist, as well as a composer whose highly personal sound was far ahead of its time. The same was true of Olivier Messiaen a century later. Simone Young forges a musical and spiritual bond between Bruckner’s Sixth Symphony and Messiaen’s exquisite symphonic meditations on the Ascension.The Sixth Symphony is shorter, lighter in tone and less monumental than Bruckner’s other symphonies. ‘Die Sechste ist die keckste’ (the Sixth is the sauciest), Bruckner himself once wrote. Perhaps most remarkable is the third movement: instead of the lively, Ländler-like folk dances that characterise his scherzos, Bruckner wrote a rather dark and eerie movement here, with a theme from his Fifth appearing in the Trio. Conductor Simone Young: ‘In his symphonies, Bruckner lived the drama and the emotions he could not find in his personal life.’

Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Bruckner and Messiaen

Anton Bruckner was a deeply religious organist, as well as a composer whose highly personal sound was far ahead of its time. The same was true of Olivier Messiaen a century later. Simone Young forges a musical and spiritual bond between Bruckner’s Sixth Symphony and Messiaen’s exquisite symphonic meditations on the Ascension.The Sixth Symphony is shorter, lighter in tone and less monumental than Bruckner’s other symphonies. ‘Die Sechste ist die keckste’ (the Sixth is the sauciest), Bruckner himself once wrote. Perhaps most remarkable is the third movement: instead of the lively, Ländler-like folk dances that characterise his scherzos, Bruckner wrote a rather dark and eerie movement here, with a theme from his Fifth appearing in the Trio. Conductor Simone Young: ‘In his symphonies, Bruckner lived the drama and the emotions he could not find in his personal life.’

Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Rachmaninoff and Sibelius

Pianist Kirill Gerstein can do it all, having already demonstrated as much with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in works by Rachmaninoff – the Piano Concerto No. 2 and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – as well as Liszt, Richard Strauss, Shostakovich and Adès. Now he tackles the Mount Everest of piano concertos – Rachmaninoff’s Third. Rachmaninoff’s characteristic melancholy always culminates in exuberant finales. The Third Piano Concerto is an uncontested high point of his œuvre: it is not only a virtuoso work, but also a compelling dialogue between piano and orchestra. And the more you hear it, the more it reveals. This also applies to Anna Clyne’s turbulent Fractured Time, the second work on the orchestra’s repertoire by this successful and fascinating composer.And speaking of exuberant finales – the orchestra is performing Jean Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony after the interval. This well-loved symphony is sombre in character, the composer having suffered from deep depression. But during the compositional process, the sun gradually broke through, and the music culminates in a radiant and sublime ending. Sibelius’s symphonies fit Santtu-Matias Rouvali like a glove, and he has been a welcome guest with the Concertgebouw Orchestra since his first appearance in 2020. Like a passionate sculptor, the Finnish conductor moulds the orchestra in changeable shapes and colours – just what Sibelius’s epic music calls for.

Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Rachmaninoff and Sibelius

Pianist Kirill Gerstein can do it all, having already demonstrated as much with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in works by Rachmaninoff – the Piano Concerto No. 2 and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – as well as Liszt, Richard Strauss, Shostakovich and Adès. Now he tackles the Mount Everest of piano concertos – Rachmaninoff’s Third. Rachmaninoff’s characteristic melancholy always culminates in exuberant finales. The Third Piano Concerto is an uncontested high point of his œuvre: it is not only a virtuoso work, but also a compelling dialogue between piano and orchestra. And the more you hear it, the more it reveals. This also applies to Anna Clyne’s turbulent Fractured Time, the second work on the orchestra’s repertoire by this successful and fascinating composer.And speaking of exuberant finales – the orchestra is performing Jean Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony after the interval. This well-loved symphony is sombre in character, the composer having suffered from deep depression. But during the compositional process, the sun gradually broke through, and the music culminates in a radiant and sublime ending. Sibelius’s symphonies fit Santtu-Matias Rouvali like a glove, and he has been a welcome guest with the Concertgebouw Orchestra since his first appearance in 2020. Like a passionate sculptor, the Finnish conductor moulds the orchestra in changeable shapes and colours – just what Sibelius’s epic music calls for.

Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Rachmaninoff and Sibelius

Pianist Kirill Gerstein can do it all, having already demonstrated as much with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in works by Rachmaninoff – the Piano Concerto No. 2 and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – as well as Liszt, Richard Strauss, Shostakovich and Adès. Now he tackles the Mount Everest of piano concertos – Rachmaninoff’s Third. Rachmaninoff’s characteristic melancholy always culminates in exuberant finales. The Third Piano Concerto is an uncontested high point of his œuvre: it is not only a virtuoso work, but also a compelling dialogue between piano and orchestra. And the more you hear it, the more it reveals. This also applies to Anna Clyne’s turbulent Fractured Time, the second work on the orchestra’s repertoire by this successful and fascinating composer.And speaking of exuberant finales – the orchestra is performing Jean Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony after the interval. This well-loved symphony is sombre in character, the composer having suffered from deep depression. But during the compositional process, the sun gradually broke through, and the music culminates in a radiant and sublime ending. Sibelius’s symphonies fit Santtu-Matias Rouvali like a glove, and he has been a welcome guest with the Concertgebouw Orchestra since his first appearance in 2020. Like a passionate sculptor, the Finnish conductor moulds the orchestra in changeable shapes and colours – just what Sibelius’s epic music calls for.

Rafael Payare and Daniil Trifonov: Beethoven and Berlioz

The Concertgebouw’s famous Main Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world, well-known for its exceptional acoustics and special atmosphere. In the Main Hall, you will feel history. Here, Gustav Mahler conducted his own compositions, as did Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky. Sergei Rachmaninoff played his own piano concertos in the Main Hall. This is also where musicians such as Leonard Bernstein, Vladimir Horowitz and Yehudi Menuhin gave legendary performances. Right up to now, the Main Hall offers a stage to the world’s best orchestras and musicians. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Main Hall for yourself!

Philips Symphony Orchestra plays Glière and Rachmaninoff

The Concertgebouw is right at the heart of Dutch music. That is why we love to welcome the best amateur orchestras and choirs of the Netherlands. To an amateur musician a performance at the Concertgebouw is always special, often marking the end of an extensive period of rehearsals. Please note: although these concerts are of a high standard, they are not performed by professional ensembles.

Debussy Wagner Berlioz

Debussy Wagner Berlioz

London Symphony Orchestra/ Half Six Fix – Berlioz

Kick-start your evening with a 60-minute Half Six Fix concert. Introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.