Muziekzomer & Tour 2019

National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands

On Sunday evening 18 August, the entire National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands - 92 musicians strong - led by conductor Antony Hermus gave the dazzling closing concert of the Muziekzomer (NJO Music Summer) Gelderland 2019 festival in home base Theater Orpheus in Apeldoorn. This ended seventeen days full of great orchestral works, chamber music, musical walking and cycling tours and much more, in which the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands of course played an important role. Take a look at Orchestra members for the names of all participating musicians.

Alexander Gavrylyuk, who would be the soloist on this occasion in the breathtaking Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff, was unfortunately unable to play due to a hand injury. Master pianist Alexander Romanovsky assumed the solo role with gusto and received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience afterwards. The orchestra and conductor also more than deserved the warm applause after the enchanting Le baiser de la fée by Stravinsky and Berlioz's revolutionary Symphonie fantastique.

Closing concert NJO Muziekzomer (photo: Nic Limper)

The Fantastic Symphony

The National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands also played Berlioz's work during The Fantastic Symphony ("De Fantastische Symfonie"). This family concert was not only a stimulating performance for children from 6 years and their parents, but also a playful introduction to classical music: prior to the concert, children could try out various instruments in the theater foyer with the help of NJO musicians. Later in the hall they heard those instruments in the Symphonie fantastique. The musicians of the orchestra and the conductor told the story of a composer in love, a big ball and a real witch's sabbath. With all 92 musicians, including two harpists and six percussionists, a spectacular experience!

The Fantastic Symphony (photo: Herman van de Vijver)

National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands and Palestinian Youth Orchestra

During this edition of the Muziekzomer, a special meeting took place in Apeldoorn between NJO and the Palestinian Youth Orchestra, which was on tour through Northern Europe. The Hijaz, an Arabic scale, formed the basis for a session full of improvisation in which the music provided a connection between young musicians from different cultures.

The Palestinian Youth Orchestra was founded in 2004 by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music and consists of young musicians trained in both Western and Arabic music. Its members come from occupied Palestinian territory, but also from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, the US and Europe. The orchestra tours through both the Arab world and Europe and strives for exchange with other youth orchestras.

Musicians of the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands and the Palestinian Youth Orchestra (photo: Jan Kapsenberg / FotoSeq.NL)

Tour to Romania

After the concerts during the Muziekzomer, the orchestra went on tour to Romania. Virgil Oprina made two beautiful videos of the concerts in Ateneul Român in Bucharest and the Sinaia Casino.

Would you like to look back at this beautiful summer in more detail? We have made a wide selection of the photos our photographers took during the Muziekzomer Gelderland and in Romania.