conductor Bernard Haitink
The third in a series of films featuring the world's leading orchestras
The orchestra was formed as a result of the opening of Amsterdam's new 'Concertgebouw' - Concert Hall - in 1888, and soon acquired an international reputation under the legendary Willem Mengelberg, its conductor for nearly 50 years.
In 1964 Bernard Haitink succeeded Eduard van Beinum as sole conductor at the age of 35. Today he remarks: 'I'm still alive, the orchestra's still alive, so after all the thing worked.'
The music extracts include
Strauss Ein Heldenleben
Ravel Mother Goose Suite
Brahms Symphony No 4
Stravinsky The Rite of Spring
Mahler Symphony No 1
and chamber works by Ravel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Schubert and Adson
Filmed in the Concertgebouw and the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands
Co-producers BBCtv and RM Productions, Munich
(Colour)