Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra (NKO; Dutch
, Nederlands Kamer Orkest) is a chamber orchestra based in Amsterdam
, the Netherlands
. The NKO is part of the Stichting Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest (Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation), along with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
(NPO). The core of the NKO is a group of at least 20 string instrumentalists. The orchestra does not have wind, percussion and harp players as permanent orchestra members, but instead utilises such instrumentalists from the NPO. The orchestra is headquartered and rehearses at the Beurs van Berlage
, Amsterdam.
The NKO was established in 1955, and gave its first concert that year at the Holland Festival
. In 1985, the NKO was merged with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra to form the Stichting Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. The NKO still continues to give concerts under its own name, including a 50th anniversary commemorative concert in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
The first chief conductor and leader of the orchestra was Szymon Goldberg
, from 1955 to 1979. During Goldberg's tenure, David Zinman served as the orchestras "second conductor (tweede dirigent). From 1979 to 1986, Antoni Ros-Marbà
was chief conductor of the NKO. From 1986 to 2002, the first period of the merger of the NKO into the NPO Foundation, Hartmut Haenchen
was chief conductor of both the NKO and the NPO. Philippe Entremont
has served as principal guest conductor of the NKO. Yakov Kreizberg
succeeded Haenchen as chief conductor of the NKO and NPO in 2003, and held the posts until his death in March 2011. Since 2004, Gordan Nikolić
has served as NKO concertmaster. In March 2009, the NKO announced the appointment of Marc Albrecht
as the orchestra's fifth chief conductor, starting with the 2011-2012 season, for an initial contract of 4 years.
In Amsterdam, the NKO gives around 15 concerts per season at the Concertgebouw. The NKO also performs as one of several orchestras in productions at De Nederlandse Opera
.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, Nederlands Kamer Orkest) is a chamber orchestra based in Amsterdam
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...
, the Netherlands
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...
. The NKO is part of the Stichting Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest (Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation), along with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based primarily in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The NedPhO was formed in 1985 from the merger of three orchestras, the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra Utrecht and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra...
(NPO). The core of the NKO is a group of at least 20 string instrumentalists. The orchestra does not have wind, percussion and harp players as permanent orchestra members, but instead utilises such instrumentalists from the NPO. The orchestra is headquartered and rehearses at the Beurs van Berlage
Beurs van Berlage
The Beurs van Berlage is a building on the Damrak, in the center of Amsterdam. It was designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and constructed between 1896 and 1903. It influenced many modernist architects, in particular functionalists and the Amsterdam School...
, Amsterdam.
The NKO was established in 1955, and gave its first concert that year at the Holland Festival
Holland Festival
The Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
. In 1985, the NKO was merged with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra to form the Stichting Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. The NKO still continues to give concerts under its own name, including a 50th anniversary commemorative concert in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
The first chief conductor and leader of the orchestra was Szymon Goldberg
Szymon Goldberg
Szymon Goldberg was a Polish-born American violinist and conductor.Born in Włocławek, Congress Poland, Goldberg played the violin as a child growing up in Warsaw...
, from 1955 to 1979. During Goldberg's tenure, David Zinman served as the orchestras "second conductor (tweede dirigent). From 1979 to 1986, Antoni Ros-Marbà
Antoni Ros-Marbà
Antoni Ros-Marbà is a Spanish conductor from Catalonia. He began his musical education at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona...
was chief conductor of the NKO. From 1986 to 2002, the first period of the merger of the NKO into the NPO Foundation, Hartmut Haenchen
Hartmut Haenchen
Hartmut Haenchen is a German orchestra conductor.Haenchen began his musical career as a member of the Dresden Kreuzchor. By the age of 15, he was already conducting performances as cantor. As a 17-year-old, he attracted widespread attention with his revival of Johann Adolph Hasse's Requiem...
was chief conductor of both the NKO and the NPO. Philippe Entremont
Philippe Entremont
Philippe Entremont is a French pianist and conductor. He has made many recordings during his career, notably one in 1961 of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic....
has served as principal guest conductor of the NKO. Yakov Kreizberg
Yakov Kreizberg
- In the Soviet Union :Yakov Kreizberg was born in Leningrad. He began studying piano at age 5. He attended the Glinka Choir School, where he began composing at age 13 and studied conducting with Ilya Musin. "Musin had an incredible system" Kreizberg recalled...
succeeded Haenchen as chief conductor of the NKO and NPO in 2003, and held the posts until his death in March 2011. Since 2004, Gordan Nikolić
Gordan Nikolic
Gordan Nikolić, Serbian violinist, born 1968.Nikolić studied violin with Jean-Jacques Kantorow in Basel and took further musical education with Witold Lutosławski and György Kurtág. As a violinist, he participated and was awarded in many competitional occasions, The Tibor Varga competition,...
has served as NKO concertmaster. In March 2009, the NKO announced the appointment of Marc Albrecht
Marc Albrecht
Marc Albrecht is a German conductor. He is the son of the conductor George Alexander Albrecht and Corinne Albrecht, formerly a ballet dancer who became a physiotherapist. Albrecht studied music with his father...
as the orchestra's fifth chief conductor, starting with the 2011-2012 season, for an initial contract of 4 years.
In Amsterdam, the NKO gives around 15 concerts per season at the Concertgebouw. The NKO also performs as one of several orchestras in productions at De Nederlandse Opera
De Nederlandse Opera
De Nederlandse Opera , in Amsterdam, is a Dutch opera company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its present home base is the Het Muziektheater, a modern building designed by Cees Dam which opened in 1986....
.
Chief Conductors
- Szymon GoldbergSzymon GoldbergSzymon Goldberg was a Polish-born American violinist and conductor.Born in Włocławek, Congress Poland, Goldberg played the violin as a child growing up in Warsaw...
(1955-1979) - Antoni Ros-MarbàAntoni Ros-MarbàAntoni Ros-Marbà is a Spanish conductor from Catalonia. He began his musical education at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona...
(1979-1986) - Hartmut HaenchenHartmut HaenchenHartmut Haenchen is a German orchestra conductor.Haenchen began his musical career as a member of the Dresden Kreuzchor. By the age of 15, he was already conducting performances as cantor. As a 17-year-old, he attracted widespread attention with his revival of Johann Adolph Hasse's Requiem...
(1986-2002) - Yakov KreizbergYakov Kreizberg- In the Soviet Union :Yakov Kreizberg was born in Leningrad. He began studying piano at age 5. He attended the Glinka Choir School, where he began composing at age 13 and studied conducting with Ilya Musin. "Musin had an incredible system" Kreizberg recalled...
(2003-2011) - Marc AlbrechtMarc AlbrechtMarc Albrecht is a German conductor. He is the son of the conductor George Alexander Albrecht and Corinne Albrecht, formerly a ballet dancer who became a physiotherapist. Albrecht studied music with his father...
(2011-present)