Jac van Steen, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra - Dutch Overtures: Van Bree, Verhulst, Wagenaar, Van Gilse (2024)
XLD | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 243 Mb | Total time: 57:72 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Brilliant Classics | # 96998 | Recorded: 1996-1998
XLD | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 243 Mb | Total time: 57:72 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Brilliant Classics | # 96998 | Recorded: 1996-1998
In the 19th century, the first violin section in Dutch orchestras often contained amateur players. In fact, even the “orchestra associations” in Utrecht, Rotterdam and Amsterdam were not composed entirely of professional musicians, with a significant number of members being amateurs. This mixed line-up of musicians and a strong leaning towards German and French composers had a profound effect on the choice of repertoire, and a marked preference developed for programmes containing a large number of short and contrasting pieces. This explains the success of the overture, a genre that included both the compressed piece of orchestral foreplay to an opera as well as independent pieces.