This orchestra was one of five that were based at the Music Center of Netherlands Radio and Television under the supervision of Edo de Waart, and comprised a base of 39 musicians that could be varied in size in keeping with the requirements of the work they are performing. This adaptability was seen as a bonus for composers who are given a better opportunity to use a wide variety of instruments rather than traditional limitations. The orchestra’s repertoire covered at least 300 years of music using this method.
Until 1994 their Artistic Director was Frans Bruggen and both Ton Koopman and Peter Eotvos followed him in as the two principal conductors bringing conducting credits with them for orchestras such as The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Ensemble Intercontemporain with them.
Championing works by Dutch contemporary composers it gave many world premieres and regularly appeared at European music festivals. Their CD of Henrik Andriessen, that posthumously celebrated his 100th birthday, won the Extra Edison Classics Award in 1993.
In 2005 it took over some of the functions of the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra and became known as the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic. After government cuts it gave its last performance in 2014.
Hendrik Andriessen recordings
Chromatic Variations,
NM Classics 92023 (CD: Hendrik Andriessen)
Conductor – David Porcelijn
Flute – Tom Reinders
Violin – Herman Vincken
Violincello – Dmitri Ferschtman
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_Radio_Chamber_Philharmonic
- http://www.tonkoopman.nl/rkoeng.htm
- http://www.naxos.com/orchestrainfo/221.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_Radio_Symphony