The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) from Amsterdam (photo), which was proclaimed the best symphony orchestra in the world by international music critics at the end of 2008, will very soon make regular appearances in the most important concert halls in London, Paris and Brussels. The RCO played concerts in these cities in the past, too, but as of next season they will acquire a structural character.
Structural character
The RCO plays ninety concerts a year in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the main Dutch cities. Besides these there are some 35 performances abroad. The very first tour was to Bergen, in Norway, in 1898. Until the 50s of the previous century tours were limited to a few concert trips per season. After that they increased steadily. Because, on the one hand, requests from abroad continue to grow and, on the other hand, they are becoming increasingly successful, a decision has been made to give the RCO’s positioning on the international stage a more structural character.
London
In London this will take the form of a long-term partnership agreement in which other foreign orchestras will also participate and will entail performances at the Barbican Centre.
Paris and Brussels
As of the 2010/2011 season the orchestra will enter into a four-year arrangement with the Pleyel hall in Paris and the new Philharmonie hall, which is currently under construction, for two or three concerts a year. In Brussels the RCO will perform two concerts per season for three years, starting from 2010/2011, in Bozar.
The activities in these cities will not be limited to concerts, though. Chamber music performances, master classes, workshops and educational projects will also be organised.
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