This week, the 88 year old conductor Bernard Haitink returns to the Concertgebouw to conduct his 1500th live concert with the Concertgebouworchestra. Haitink and the Concertgebouw have a long history. In 1939 he was present when Willem Mengelberg conducted his famed St Matthew passion. If you hear Bernard cough, you might hear the first recording of him in the Concertgebouw :-) Read more about this concert, -> here <-
Since 1956 he was a guest conductor. Around that time he was the principle conductor of the Dutch radio philharmonic. A 1956 recording of Haitink with that orchestra can be heard -> here <-.
After becoming principle conductor of the Concertgebouw orchestra in 1961, he stayed there till 1988. The Royal opera house in London, the Chicago Symphony orchestra and the Staatskapelle Dresden were his next focus. About 10 years ago, Haitink surprised with a series of concerts and recordings that seems to “re-spark” and re-juvinate his conducting style. Beethoven and Shostakovich with fresh tempi, yet insightful and layered performances. The cycle of Beethoven symphonies that he conducted with the London Symphony Orchestra is a fine example of his Indian summer. As a bonus, an also fine version of Beethoven’s violin concerto with Frank Peter Zimmermann as soloist. Mind you, that season at the Staatskapelle Dresden was a last minute substitute for Haitink, as he replaced the then just deceased Giuseppe Sinopoli…
Hope you will enjoy this playlist again!
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1828)
Track 01-04 Symphony No 1 recorded live on 29 and 30 April 2006,
Track 05-08 Symphony No 2 recorded live on 26 and 27 November 2005,
Track 09-12 Symphony No 3 recorded live on 21 and 22 November 2005,
Track 13-16 Symphony No 4 recorded live on 19 and 20 April 2006,
Track 17-20 Symphony No 5 recorded live on 24 and 25 April 2006,
Track 21-25 Symphony No 6 recorded live on 21 and 22 November 2005,
Track 26-29 Symphony No 7 recorded live on 16 and 17 November 2005,
Track 30-33 Symphony No 8 recorded live on 24 and 25 April 2006,
Track 34-37 Symphony No 9 recorded live on 29 and 30 April 2006,
All at the Barbican concert hall, London.
London Symphony Orchestra
Bonus:
Track 38-40 Violin concerto in D major recorded live on 29-30 sept. & 2 okt. 2002, Kulturpalast, Dresden
Frank Peter Zimmermann (viool), Staatskapelle Dresden o.l.v. Bernard Haitink
(Spotify webplayer link)
Haitink in 2016 interview
