The Netherlands Philharmonic & Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and TAQA Theater De Vest & Grote Kerk Alkmaar have formalised their collaboration in a multi-year agreement. With this agreement, both parties underline their shared ambition to strengthen classical music in the Alkmaar region and reach a wide audience.
Central to the collaboration are the concerts given by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra at Theater De Vest. Each season, four to five concerts are held, including supporting programmes in the foyers. Both institutions are committed to jointly organising annual audience favourites such as the Christmas Concert and a Passion performance.
Local connection and education
An important part of the covenant is the joint pursuit of social impact through De Vest in de Stad project. Within this participation programme, members of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra play together with local amateur musicians. Collaboration with music schools and music teachers from the region plays a major role in this.
The covenant applies to the period 2025–2028, coinciding with the Culture Plan period of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Through this collaboration, the orchestra and the theatre give direction to their joint programming, public activities and participation projects. Through joint promotion, both parties strive for greater visibility and a broader audience. Although the agreement ends on 31 December 2028, both parties have expressed their intention to continue the collaboration beyond that date.
Season 2025-2026
The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra will perform four times in Alkmaar next season. On Sunday 19 October, the orchestra, conducted by musical director and violinist Gordan Nikolić, will perform Schubert's
Der Tod und das Mädchen
and, together with soloists Quirine Viersen (cello) and Alasdair Beatson (piano), Beethoven's dynamic
Triple Concerto
. On 11 December, the orchestra will close the year with its traditional Christmas concert.
In February 2016, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra will return to Theater De Vest with Schumann's Piano Concerto and Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 , conducted by violin virtuoso Shunske Sato, followed by Bach's St Matthew Passion , conducted by René Jacobs, at the Grote Kerk Alkmaar. In May, the audience can look forward to a passionate flamenco programme with works by Rodrigo and De Falla.