Behind the scenes

Stories

Stories

Cato Went plays Last with Residentie Orkest

On December 20, violinist Cato Went will play her Last with the Residentie Orkest. After decades of seeing the orchestra change, she looks back on a musical life that began less naturally than you might think. About doubts, Brahms, Svetlanov, and the warmth of the orchestra.

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In conversation with two generations of Residentie Orkest harpists

Playing the harp in an orchestra: a versatile but also demanding task. Mathilde Wauters and Štefica Žužek know all about it. Whereas Wauters has been the Residentie Orkest 's current harpist since 2022, former harpist Žužek took early retirement in 2000 after 34 years. In a double interview, they reflect on their love for the harp as well as the orchestra.

Ben Legebeke plays Last concert with Residentie Orkest

After an orchestral career of over 44 years, Ben Legebeke, perhaps our best-known second violinist, is about to say goodbye. On Sunday October 19, he will play for the last time with the Residentie Orkest in Amare with - very appropriately - Fauré's Requiem.

Agnes Houtsmuller to retire

This week, first violinist Agnes Houtsmuller plays her Last Concerts with the Residentie Orkest. For nearly forty years, a third of the orchestra's age, she played with them. "You know the moment will come one day, but still I will miss the orchestra, the colleagues, making music together and especially the music very much."

Artist in residence Bomsori Kim: 'Music is my way of making a positive difference'

In 2023, South Korean violinist Bomsori Kim made her debut with the Residentie Orkest in The Hague and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The musical click was so strong that she was almost immediately invited as artist in residence for the 2025-2026 season. 'It went completely naturally, we felt each other musically flawlessly.'

Charlie Aptroot looks forward to new role as VVRO president

Charlie Aptroot succeeds Han Moraal, who is stepping down after fifteen aar, as chairman of the Friends of the Residentie Orkest Association (VVRO). The former mayor of Zoetermeer is obviously looking forward to it. "As a Friend of the Residentie Orkest kest, you get a look behind the scenes; I didn't know it was so much fun."

'The Residentie Orkest will always have an enriching role in our Hague community'

Twenty years ago, labor lawyer and mediator Anouk Talitsch met an orchestra member in her children's schoolyard. From then on, she and her family regularly went to concerts. Now she supports the Residentie Orkest as a member of Club RO: "The orchestra not only makes beautiful music, but also makes a valuable contribution to the community of The Hague.

A mystery unraveled

In the 120th anniversary year of the Residentie Orkest , an old folder of negatives surfaced at the well-known Hague antiquarian bookshop Colette. The photos revealed the life of a musical family from The Hague in the 1940s. And unusually, some of the photos also featured the name of the Residentie Orkest . But who was this family?

'I wouldn't want to miss my connection with the Residentie Orkest '

Sometime in the 1980s, Bart Lammers heard a piece in a London record store that touched him deeply. That's where the spark with classical music jumped over.' Once back in The Hague, he collected the entire Orchestral Fireworks series and became a regular visitor to the Residentie Orkest. Forty years later he is still closely involved, both in front of and behind the scenes.

VVRO chairman Han Moraal bids farewell

After no less than fifteen years, former attorney general Han Moraal is stepping down as president of the Friends of the Residentie Orkest (VVRO) Association. With pride he looks back on the development that the association and the orchestra have undergone in that time.

'It's great to experience how music brings people together'

When Jane Sum returned to The Hague after sixteen years abroad, she knew one thing for sure: she wanted to fully enjoy art and culture again. A free lunch concert by the Residentie Orkest made such an impression that she decided to become a Friend. 'The concert was so beautiful that I immediately introduced my sister. Now we are both Friends!

'Culture has always given us great pleasure and inspiration and I like to pass that on'

Lex Sip, an architect, has been attending the Residentie Orkest since he was a teenager . 'Over half a century of concert attendance, that creates a bond. That's why I started talking about bequeathing to the orchestra and the possibility of a named fund. That way, when I'm alive, I can do something for the orchestra that has always given and continues to give us so much.'

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