Residentie Orkest welcomes Anna Fedorova, Blaudzun and Barbara Kozelj
The Residentie Orkest will give its second close-up concert at the Nieuwe Kerk in February 2026, sharing the stage at Amare and Paard with pianist Anna Fedorova, mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj, and singer/songwriter Blaudzun. The conductors are Otto Tausk, Jun Märkl, and Joost Geevers.
Sun Feb 1, 11am, Amare: MENDELSSOHN & RAVEL
Experience a thrilling start to your Sunday with the Residentie Orkest, conducted by Otto Tausk. This concert combines Mendelssohn’s playful inventiveness with the vibrant dynamism of Ravel’s piano playing – a program that will surprise and move you in equal measure. An inspiring morning where tradition and innovation go hand in hand. Mendelssohn’s First Symphony is a daring work by a fifteen-year-old who is already making his own musical voice heard. Written for his sister Fanny’s birthday, it bursts with youthful energy, offering a foretaste of the romantic grandeur that would later define Mendelssohn. Ukrainian pianist Anna Fedorova – praised for her deep expression, including by her millions of YouTube viewers – brings Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major to life. This composition, infused with jazzy influences and rich colors, challenges with refinement and virtuosity, and allows Ravel’s love of rhythm and sound to shine.
Specially for children aged 4 to 12, there will be a musical workshop during this concert for five euros per child. Please book in advance. The workshop will be in Dutch.
Fri Feb 6 (8:15 pm) & Sun Feb 8 (2:15 pm), Amare: SMETANA & SCHULLHOFF
Composers depict landscapes not with paint and brush, but with instruments and notes. Today, three masters bring the nature, tradition, and myths of their homeland to life. Smetana’s famous Má vlast (My Homeland) is an ode to his native Czech Republic. The colorful sounds of the Moldau River are the best-known movement, but the other symphonic poems also offer impressive sketches of the Bohemian landscape. The Residentie Orkest, under chief conductor Jun Märkl, opens the concerts with Erwin Schulhoff’s sparkling arrangement of Beethoven’s Rage Over a Lost Penny , a work in which energy, virtuosity, and playful rhythms set the tone. This is followed by his vocal symphony Landschaften from 1912, a recently rediscovered masterpiece in which the composer captures images of nature with warm, expressive sounds. Barbara Kozelj’s captivating mezzo-soprano further intensifies this musical journey. Concerts full of virtuosity and refinement, ideal for anyone who is longing for spring in the middle of winter.
Wed 18 Feb, 8:15 PM, Nieuwe Kerk: CLOSE-UP WITH MOZART & SPOHR
Chamber music at its finest: an intimate, close-up concert where strings and wind instruments shine together in two masterful works. As a spectator, you’ll be seated in a 360° viewing position around the ensemble, experiencing the music up close. Musicians from the Residentie Orchestra bring Mozart’s Piano Quintet and Spohr’s Nonet to life in a program celebrating color and virtuosity. The works offer a fascinating contrast: Mozart’s classical elegance and refinement contrasted with Spohr’s romantic warmth and expressiveness.
Sat. Feb. 28, 8:15 PM, Paard: SYMPHONIC JUNCTION ft. BLAUDZUN
For over ten years, the Residentie Orkest has collaborated with PAARD on the Symphonic Junction series. These unique concerts explore the boundaries of classical and (pop) music. Each edition features a dialogue with a pop music icon. Previous editions have included Rufus Wainwright, Janne Schra, Hef, Pat Smith, Roos Meijer, Tess Merlot, Supersister, and Joep Beving. On the last day of February, the orchestra, conducted by Joost Geevers, will share the stage with Blaudzun. With his distinctive voice, poetic lyrics, and captivating sound, Johannes Sigmond’s musical alter ego has become one of the most idiosyncratic artists in the Netherlands. His music moves between melancholic pop, indie rock, and orchestral arrangements, always recognizable by an intense emotional charge. In short, a perfect match with the orchestra of The Hague.
Photos above : Anna Fedorova, Blaudzun & Barbara Kozelj
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