Latest News
Gustavo Gimeno - assistent conductor RCO
Gustavo Gimeno, my friend and Solopercussiomist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,will assist Mariss Jansons with the famous Christmas Conceert program that features Bruckner's 7th Symphony. I would advice many orchestra's to keep an eye on him, because he will go far!
Masterclass in Bari, Italy
Last June Nick was invited by Filippo Latanzi from Bari, Italy , to present a 3 day timpani course. I enjoyed my stay there a lot [ my grandfather was born in Bari ] and was terribly spoiled by Filippo. The level of playing, the hospitality, the food and the countryside were a real treat for me.
With Filippo and Giuseppe and Domenico, my colleagues of Teatro Petrucelli.
The excellent students of Filippo
AND
For the best food in Italy, you go to .... BARI
All Mahlers, played in 2010/11 on the WWWeb.
The New Schnellars
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra's timpanists acquired 2 sets of the new Adams Schnellars, based on exact copies of the unique Royal Concertgebouw pair of original Schnellar pedal drums [1905]. All drums have calf heads and are taken on all tours.
The sound and projection of these timpani are incredible! These timpani will be offered in all sizes and as cranck or pedal drums [Dresden and Berlin pedal] or a combination of that.
Check these pictures:
Gramophone names Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra the World’s Best Orchestra
Gramophone names Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra the World’s Best OrchestraGramophone names Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra the World’s Best Orchestra Britain’s leading classical music magazine Gramophone has named the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra the World’s Best Orchestra. The announcement was published in its December edition (date of issue: 21 November).
The RCO received this distinction following a poll of leading music critics from all over the world.
Below is Gramophone’s list of the world’s top ten orchestras:
1. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
2. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
3. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
4. London Symphony Orchestra
5. Chicago Symphony Orchestra
6. Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
7. Cleveland Orchestra
8. Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
9. Budapest Festival Orchestra
10. Staatskapelle DresdenJames Jolly, editor-in-chief of Gramophone, wrote that the RCO owes its leading position to the individual character of its sound, the RCO being one of the last orchestras in the world with its own special, instantly recognisable sound.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is very pleased indeed to have been singled out for such an honour and the international recognition it brings.
In 2006 my new timpani book has been released
The release took place at the Frankfurter Messe 2006
The TIMPANI Challenge is the title. Visit page 5 fore more information and download free studies!
The Call, Nick's new brass composition was premiered by the RCO Brass in the US . Also the piece will feature on the new RCO Brass CD. Kagarice Brass Editions will publish The Call soon!
The new Adams Timpani, restyled after the famous Dresdner Apparatebau Pauken have been tested in the RCO and we found them of an excellent soundquality and playing comfort. The sound of the "old times", warm but clear and focused has been recreated in these drums. A formidable and worthy achievement of our own foremost Dutch Timpani builders.
The Concertgebouw section visited during their USA tour the Zildjian factory and were invited to become Zildjian Artists. We were very happy with the sound and quality of the new series of crash K- cymbals and had a long testing day, playing and experimenting with all the new and superb Zildjian instruments.
