Soon after its establishment in 1888, the Concertgebouw Orchestra developed into one of the best orchestras in Europe. "Really magnificent, full of youthful vigor and enthusiasm" as Richard Strauss described it in 1897. The Orchestra was granted Royal status in 1988. It has made more than an 1100 LPs, CDs and DVDs and is regarded worldwide as one of the most prestigious symphony orchestras. The fact that it has been led by only a limited number of chief conductors has played a decisive role in this development.

The Orchestra has gained its unique international position with its 'velvet' strings, 'golden' brass and the exceptional and personal timbre of the woodwinds. The musicians are the guardians of the playing culture that gives the Orchestra its unique sound and flexibility. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra consists of 120 virtuosos who perform together at the highest level.

The Orchestra has worked with many world-famous guest conductors, each of whom made a unique contribution to the development of the Orchestra's sound and the repertoire, including Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta and honorary guest conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

The Orchestra has gained international acclaim with its interpretations of the late romantic repertoire. The Mahler tradition, embedded in the many performances Mahler conducted here personally, achieved great heights during the Mahler Festivals in 1920 and 1995. Bernard Haitink made a huge impression with his complete recording of the Mahler symphonies and with the Christmas matinees.

Bruckner, too, is a vital part of the Orchestra's repertoire. After the war, it was Eduard van Beinum in particular who drew attention to French music and the Bruckner symphonies.

With his interpretations in the concert hall and on CD recordings, Riccardo Chailly made a major contribution to contemporary music and opera. His Mahler interpretations also enjoyed wide popular and critical acclaim. With the arrival of Mariss Jansons in 2004 a new phase has started, with continued interest in composers such as Mahler, Bruckner and Richard Strauss as well as major twentieth-century composers such as Shostakovich and Messiaen. In Mariss Jansons' first two seasons as chief conductor, he has conducted a broad repertoire ranging from Haydn and Mozart to contemporary Dutch compositions and a commissioned work by Henze. 

Conductor: Mariss Jansons
Born in Riga, the young Mariss Jansons studied violin, piano and orchestra conducting at the Leningrad Conservatory. In 1969, he proceeded to study under Hans Swarowsky in Vienna and Herbert von Karajan in Salzburg. Just two years later, he won the International Herbert von Karajan Competition in Berlin.

Mariss Jansons' collaboration with the orchestra of St. Petersburg dates from 1973 when Mravinsky invited him to become his assistant. He has since then made a number of major tours with this orchestra. Leading the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mariss Jansons has performed in some of the most important music centres in Europe, America and Japan and he was a guest at the Lucerne Festival, the Edinburgh Festival and the BBC Proms.
 
As guest conductor Mariss Jansons has performed with orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the orchestras of Cleveland and Philadelphia, the New York Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also been the principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2006 he directed the New Year's concert in Vienna. 

Mariss Jansons has been awarded various international honours for his achievements, including the Cross of Merit from King Harald of Norway and memberships of the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. In May 2006 he was awarded the Order of the Three Stars, Latvia's highest state honour.

Programs

November 04
Johannes Brahms   
Symphony No.3 in F major, Op. 90    33'
Allegro con brio   
Andante            
Poco allegretto    
Allegro            

Modest Mussorgsky   
Pictures at an Exhibition    36'   
(Orchestrations by Maurice Ravel)
Gnomus 
The Old Castle 
The Tuilleries  
Bydlo
Ballet of the Chickens in their Shells
Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
Limoges: The Market Place 
Catacombae -Cum mortuis in lingua mortua 
The Hut on Fowl's legs 
The Great Gate of Kiev 

November 05
Antonin Dvořák
Symphony No.8 in G major, Op. 88    38'
Allegro con brio
Adagio 
Allegretto grazioso -Molto vivace 
Allegro ma non troppo 

Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No.4 in A major, Op. 90, "Italian"    27'
Allegro con brio 
Adagio 
Allegreto grazioso 
Allegro ma non troppo 

Maurice Ravel           
La Valse    13'