English Info

For more information on subscriptions call 070-8800218. Order your single tickets at our box office (see number below).

You can reach us:
Boxoffice and concert tickets: +31 (0)70-88 00 333 (daily from 10 am till 6 pm)
General inquiries: +31 (0)70 88 00 200 or info@residentieorkest.nl
Press inquiries: +31 (0)6 22 47 792 or pers@residentieorkest.nl
Vacancies (HR): +31 (0)70 88 00 228 or hr@residentieorkest.nl  


The Residentie Orkest

Since its first concert in 1904, the Residentie Orkest / The Hague Philharmonic has grown into one of the Netherlands’ major symphony orchestras. The orchestra was founded by Dr. Henri Viotta, who was also its first principal conductor. It quickly became a port of call for composers like Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Max Reger, Maurice Ravel, Paul Hindemith and Vincent d’Indy, as well as guest conductors including Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, Leonard Bernstein and Hans Knappertsbusch.

After the Second World War, Willem van Otterloo became chief conductor of the Residentie Orkest from 1949 to 1973. He built up the orchestra’s exceptional reputation by combining its excellent playing with adventurous programming. After Van Otterloo, the chief conductors were (in order) Jean Martinon, Ferdinand Leitner, Hans Vonk, Evgenii Svetlanov, Jaap van Zweden and Neeme Järvi.

Residentie Orkest in the 21st century
The Residentie Orkest is proving that even in the 21st century, symphonic music still has the power and beauty to move a large audience. Its reputation as one of the finest orchestras in Europe makes it an appropriate figurehead for The Hague as a cosmopolitan city of justice, peace and culture. The orchestra performs in concert series ‘at home’ in the Dr. Anton Philipszaal, and in other major concert halls in the Netherlands and abroad. The orchestra also gives regular concerts elsewhere in The Hague, such as the New Year’s concert and open-air concerts in the Zuiderpark. Annual highlights include a concert on a floating stage during The Hague’s Festival Classique, and accompanying productions by De Nederlandse Opera. In 2008 the Residentie Orkest received great critical acclaim for Messiaen’s rarely performed opera ‘Saint François d’Assise’. In September 2009 the Residentie Orkest received enthusiastic response during the China-tour, where concerts were given in Xiamen, Shanghai and Beijing.

Education
The Residentie Orkest is strongly committed to classical music education. As its active contribution to increasing the public’s knowledge of classical music, it has developed an educational programme for all ages. Concertgoers have the opportunity to attend introductory talks and listening courses. Young music fans can take special workshops as part of the Sunday matinees.
For amateur musicians, there are master classes and orchestra weekends at which they can have lessons from, or play along with, professional musicians from the orchestra. Special activities have been developed for elementary and secondary schools, from school concerts and open rehearsals to a continuing-education course for teachers and an intensive three-year music education course for the elementary schools in The Hague.