By Chen Jie

The world's top orchestra to grace the capital this year brings two evenings of the most memorable music you are likely to hear.

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) presents two programs of classical music's most virtuoso yet heart-wrenching works, including Weber's startling Overture to Der Freischutz, Brahms' Second Symphony and Bartok's dazzling Concerto for Orchestra. 

Not familiar with the orchestra? 

In November 2008, the venerable British publication Gramophone invited classic music critics from around the world to come up with their top 20 favorite orchestras. In the No. 1 spot was not the Berlin Philharmonic, nor Vienna Philharmonic, but the RCO. 

The 124-year-old orchestra has been shaped by several generations of musicians and has gained its unique international position due to its "velvet" strings, "golden" brass and the exceptional and personal timbre of the woodwinds. 

Jannie Jansen

The concerts will be conducted by Myung-whun Chung and feature the highly gifted violinist Jannie Jansen (pictured above), playing Mendelssohn's beloved Violin Concerto in E Major.