In February, The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra (Residentie Orkest) treat classical music lovers to two beautiful concerts. Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk plays Schumann on 10 and 12 February, and on 17 and 18 February, the orchestra performs Brahms Violin Concerto for piano in a very special programme especially arranged by soloist Dejan Lazic. At the beginning of March, Jörgen van Rijen is set to play the world premiere of the new trombone concerto (by Kalevi Aho).

Pablo Heras-Casado, appearing with the Residentie Orkest for the second time this season, has put together a wonderfully romantic programme. Besides Beethoven’s Overture to Goethe’s play ‘Egmont’, the first half of the concert will include Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto. Both cellists and audiences love this concerto, above all for its breathtakingly beautiful and sonorous middle movement. The soloist, Norwegian-born master cellist Truls Mørk, was the first-ever Scandinavian finalist and winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1982. Heras-Casado conducts Strauss’ impressive symphonic poem ‘Ein Heldenleben’ to close the concert. This concert takes place on Friday, 10 February at 20:15 and Sunday, 12 February at 14:15. 

What can you do if you want to play Brahms’ Violin Concerto but you’re a pianist? Inspired by the knowledge that composers would routinely arrange their own or others’ work for other instruments, young Croatian pianist Dejan Lazic decided to arrange this romantic violin concerto for piano and orchestra. Not a note of the orchestral parts has been changed, but he’s added a new cadenza. His recent CD recording of the piece with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra received rave reviews. Lazic himself is coming to The Hague to play this exciting virtuoso concerto with the Residentie Orkest. The orchestra will also play Mahler’s First Symphony, inspired by the novel ‘Der Titan’ by Jean Paul. This concert will take place in the World Forum Theater on Friday, 17 February at 20:15 and on Saturday, 18 February at 20:15.

Classical concert tip for March 2012

Friday, 2 March ~ 20:15

Contemporary music has always found favour with the Residentie Orkest. Since its founding in 1904, ‘modern’ music has always been on the programme. The orchestra will play recent works from Finland and the Netherlands in the Royal Conservatorium’s Schönbergzaal. After the short, festive ‘Helix’ by Esa-Pekka Salonen, they will perform Theo Verbey’s ‘Fractal Symphony’, commissioned in 2004 by the Residentie Orkest for its hundredth birthday. Verbey combines the technique of determining the rhythmic structure by numerical relationships with a virtuoso writing style and colourful handling of the instrumentation. The centrepiece is the world premiere of Kalevi Aho’s Trombone Concerto, played by the young Dutch trombone virtuoso Jörgen van Rijen, for whom it was composed.

For further information about the Residentie Orkest or for bookings for either of these shows, visit www.residentieorkest.nl

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