Jaap van Zweden
Encyclopedia
Jaap van Zweden (born December 12, 1960 in Amsterdam
, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch
conductor and violin
ist.
.
of the Concertgebouw Orchestra
— the youngest violinist ever to assume that position, which he held until 1995.
Van Zweden began to work as a conductor after Leonard Bernstein
invited him to lead an orchestra rehearsal in Berlin
. He has stated that he learned much about conducting from observing the various conductors who led concerts of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. He conducted smaller ensembles initially, and became a full-time conductor in 1997.
His first Dutch conducting post was as chief conductor with the Orkest van het Oosten
(Orchestra of the East, or the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra) in Enschede
, the Netherlands. He served in this post from 1996 through 2000. Van Zweden was chief conductor of the Residentie Orchestra
in The Hague
from 2000-2005, with whom he recorded the complete symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven
. In 2005, he became chief conductor and artistic leader of the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest (RFO; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic) in Hilversum
. In February 2007, he extended his RFO contract through 2013. In August 2010, the orchestra announced that van Zweden would step down from the RFO chief conductorship in 2012 and take the title of honorair gastdirigent (honorary guest conductor, or principal guest conductor).
Van Zweden made his US conducting debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
in 1996. His second US guest-conducting appearance was with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
in February 2006, a concert that was highly acclaimed. Based on this engagement, the Dallas Symphony named van Zweden their next Music Director after Andrew Litton
, effective with the 2008–2009 season. His initial contract is for four years, where in the first year he is scheduled to conduct 12 weeks of subscription concerts, and for 15 weeks in the subsequent 3 years. For the 2007–2008 season, he held the title of Music Director Designate and conducted 3 subscription concerts. In October 2009, the Dallas Symphony announced the extension of his contract through the 2015-2016 season. In addition to his post with the RFO and his Music Directorship with the Dallas Symphony, van Zweden became chief conductor of deFilharmonie
(Royal Flemish Philharmonic) in Antwerp in 2008, for an initial contract of 5 years. In 2012, van Zweden is scheduled to step down from the chief conductorship of deFilharmonie and to take the title of eredirigent (honorary conductor).
, as their son Benjamin is autistic. In 2000, they set up the Papageno Foundation to provide autistic children with music therapy
.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
conductor and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist.
Biography
Van Zweden's father, a pianist, encouraged him to begin violin studies at age five, and he studied music in Amsterdam. At age 15, he won a violin competition; this allowed him to attend The Juilliard School in the United States, where he studied with Dorothy DeLayDorothy DeLay
Dorothy DeLay was an American violin instructor, primarily at the Juilliard School.She was born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.-Career and education:...
.
Career
In 1979, at age 18, Van Zweden became the concertmasterConcertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
of the Concertgebouw Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
— the youngest violinist ever to assume that position, which he held until 1995.
Van Zweden began to work as a conductor after Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
invited him to lead an orchestra rehearsal in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He has stated that he learned much about conducting from observing the various conductors who led concerts of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. He conducted smaller ensembles initially, and became a full-time conductor in 1997.
His first Dutch conducting post was as chief conductor with the Orkest van het Oosten
Orkest van het Oosten
The Orkest van het Oosten is a Dutch symphony orchestra. The home of the orchestra is the Muziekcentrum in Enschede. The OvhO performs about 75 concerts a year in Enschede, Hengelo, Zwolle and Deventer, as well as throughout the province of Overijssel and the Randstad...
(Orchestra of the East, or the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra) in Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
, the Netherlands. He served in this post from 1996 through 2000. Van Zweden was chief conductor of the Residentie Orchestra
Residentie Orchestra
Het Residentie Orkest is a Dutch orchestra based in The Hague. Its primary venue is the Dr. Anton Philipszaal....
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
from 2000-2005, with whom he recorded the complete symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
. In 2005, he became chief conductor and artistic leader of the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest (RFO; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic) in Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
. In February 2007, he extended his RFO contract through 2013. In August 2010, the orchestra announced that van Zweden would step down from the RFO chief conductorship in 2012 and take the title of honorair gastdirigent (honorary guest conductor, or principal guest conductor).
Van Zweden made his US conducting debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the SLSO is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States as it is preceded by the New York Philharmonic.-History:The St...
in 1996. His second US guest-conducting appearance was with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
in February 2006, a concert that was highly acclaimed. Based on this engagement, the Dallas Symphony named van Zweden their next Music Director after Andrew Litton
Andrew Litton
Andrew Litton is an American orchestral conductor. Litton is a graduate of The Fieldston School, and holds both undergraduate and Masters degrees in music from Juilliard....
, effective with the 2008–2009 season. His initial contract is for four years, where in the first year he is scheduled to conduct 12 weeks of subscription concerts, and for 15 weeks in the subsequent 3 years. For the 2007–2008 season, he held the title of Music Director Designate and conducted 3 subscription concerts. In October 2009, the Dallas Symphony announced the extension of his contract through the 2015-2016 season. In addition to his post with the RFO and his Music Directorship with the Dallas Symphony, van Zweden became chief conductor of deFilharmonie
DeFilharmonie
deFilharmonie is a Belgian symphony orchestra, with its principal home base in Antwerp. Founded by Gaston Ariën, Jef Maes, J.A...
(Royal Flemish Philharmonic) in Antwerp in 2008, for an initial contract of 5 years. In 2012, van Zweden is scheduled to step down from the chief conductorship of deFilharmonie and to take the title of eredirigent (honorary conductor).
Personal life
Since 1983, van Zweden has been married to the artist Aaltje van Zweden–van Buuren. They have a daughter, Anna-Sophie, and three sons, Daniel, Benjamin and Alexander. The van Zwedens have a particular interest in autismAutism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
, as their son Benjamin is autistic. In 2000, they set up the Papageno Foundation to provide autistic children with music therapy
Music therapy
Music therapy is an allied health profession and one of the expressive therapies, consisting of an interpersonal process in which a trained music therapist uses music and all of its facets—physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual—to help clients to improve or maintain their...
.