Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw Plays to Full Houses Again

The reopening comes after the playful protests against COVID-19 restrictions in the Netherlands, where cultural venues opened for a day as temporary hairdressing and fitness venues in mid-January.

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) was among the ensembles in the Netherlands that were forced to cancel concerts as of December 2021 due to rising COVID cases. 

According to RCO’s website, the matter was settled during a press conference on February 15, where it was announced that full-house performances at the Concertgebouw will resume as of February 25, 2022. “We are delighted to be able to welcome you without restrictions at our concerts in March,” they wrote.

Though daily cases remain high, the Netherlands government officials have announced a three-tier reopening process for cultural venues. As of February 18, venues may open between 5 AM to 1AM and vaccination passes will be necessary. 

However, as of February 25, regular opening hours may resume, no social distancing or mask mandates will be enforced, and passes will no longer be mandatory for locations with a capacity of less than 500 people.

For their upcoming concerts on March 3, 5, and 6, the RCO will be directed by Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, who is standing in at short notice for RCO conductor emeritus Riccardo Chailly.

Additionally, the Concertgebouw recently held “Symphony for Wiebelkonten,” an educational program open to almost 3000 children aged between eight and nine. In collaboration with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the program saw the concert hall officially at full capacity.

The program kicked off with Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma performing as a soloist with conductor Lawrence Renes in Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto. According to its press release, the Concertgebouw receives at least 40,000 children a year for its educational and family concerts. 

“As soon as the rules allowed it, we did not hesitate for a moment to restart all our education projects,” said Concertgebouw’s general director Simon Reinink. “Music education is the basis of everything for us. Moreover, these concerts are really a party and therefore a perfect 'reopening' of The Concertgebouw!”