Residentie Orchestra facts for kids
Het Residentie Orkest is a famous Dutch orchestra from the city of The Hague. Its name means "The Residence Orchestra" in English. The orchestra performs its concerts at a modern building called the Amare performing arts centre.
Contents
The Orchestra's Story
The Residentie Orkest has a long and exciting history. It has played in many places and worked with some of the most famous names in music.
How It All Began
The orchestra was started in 1904 by a man named Henri Viotta. Its first concert hall was a building called the Gebouw voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen, which means "Building for Arts and Sciences."
The orchestra quickly became well-known. In 1911, the famous composer Richard Strauss even came to conduct his own music with them. This event helped the orchestra gain a lot of attention. Soon, other great composers like Igor Stravinsky and Maurice Ravel also worked with the orchestra.
A New Home After a Fire
For many years, the orchestra played in its original home. But in 1964, a fire destroyed the building. The orchestra was left without a permanent place to perform. They played in different venues all over The Hague.
To raise money for a new concert hall, the orchestra released special records. The campaign was a success! A new hall, the Dr. Anton Philipszaal, was built. It was named after Anton Frederik Philips, one of the founders of the Philips Electronics company. The orchestra moved into its new home in 1987.
In 2021, the orchestra moved again to an even newer venue. They now perform at the Amare, a large and modern center for the arts in The Hague.
Famous Guest Performers
Over the years, the Residentie Orkest has been led by many talented guest conductors. These are conductors who visit for a short time to lead the orchestra. Some of the most famous guest conductors have included Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, and Arturo Toscanini.
The orchestra has also traveled the world. They have performed in major cities like New York City, Boston, Vienna, and Berlin.
Recent History
In 2019, the orchestra made an important announcement. They named Anja Bihlmaier as their next chief conductor. She was the first woman ever to hold this top position with the Residentie Orkest. She led the orchestra from 2021 to 2025.
As of 2025, the orchestra's chief conductor is Jun Märkl.
Leaders of the Orchestra
The main conductor of an orchestra is called the chief conductor. They are responsible for the orchestra's artistic direction. Here are some of the chief conductors who have led the Residentie Orkest.
Chief Conductors
- Henri Viotta (1904–1917)
- Peter van Anrooy (1917–1935)
- Frits Schuurman (1938–1949)
- Willem van Otterloo (1949–1973)
- Jean Martinon (1974–1976)
- Ferdinand Leitner (1976–1980)
- Hans Vonk (1980–1992)
- Evgeny Svetlanov (1993–2000)
- Jaap van Zweden (2000–2005)
- Neeme Järvi (2005–2012)
- Nicholas Collon (2018–2021)
- Anja Bihlmaier (2021–2025)
- Jun Märkl (2025–present)
Special Conductor Roles
Sometimes, conductors have special titles to honor their relationship with the orchestra.
- Honorary Guest Conductor: Jaap van Zweden (2005–present)
- Principal Guest Conductors: This role has been held by many talented people, including George Szell, Oliver Knussen, and Richard Egarr.
See also
In Spanish: Orquesta de la Residencia de la Haya para niños
