The Metropole Orchestra
The Metropole Orchestra is the world's largest professional pop and jazz orchestra. The orchestra consists of a complete complement of strings and a full Big Band. Renowned for its wide-ranging repertoire, the Metropole Orchestra performs chansons, cabaret as well as top-of-the-pops and film scores. Its concerts with the leading national and international jazz stars reach enthusiastic listeners worldwide. The burgeoning Dutch film industry relies on the Metropole Orchestra for its film scores and the orchestra's fame is spreading rapidly as a main player in the international film industry.
Led by Grammy Award winner conductor, composer and arranger Vince Mendoza, the Metropole Orchestra is reaching for the stars.
Founded by Dolf van der Linden in 1945, the Metropole Orchestra is one of the world’s most famous professional pop and jazz ensembles. The orchestra has worked with the most important names in the world of pop, jazz and cabaret and has received constant praise for the high quality of its performances. Under the baton of four time Grammy winner Vince Mendoza, the orchestra continues to grow and experiment in the new millennium. A list of performers who have shared the stage with the Metropole Orchestra underscores the ensembles quality and flexibility to cover a wide array of genres: Oleta Adams, Charles Aznavour, Shirley Bassey, Andrea Bocelli, John Cale, Joe Cocker, Elvis Costello, Eddie Daniels, Céline Dion, Brian Eno, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Junkie XL, The King’s Singers, Chaka Khan, Pat Metheny, Ivan Lins, John Scofield, The Swingle Singers, Jean ‘Toots’ Thielemans, Mel Tormé, Steve Vai, Sarah Vaughan, Dionne Warwick, Andy Williams, Nancy Wilson, bandoneonist Dino Saluzzi, Trijntje Oosterhuis, the Turkish singer Sezen Aksu and fado-queen Mariza.
1945-1980
The Metropole Orchestra was popular right from its inception and Dolf van der Linden led the group from success to success. Dolf van der Linden, the extraordinary founder of the Metropole Orchestra formed the group shortly after the Second World War. His mandate was to create an ensemble with the ability to produce high level performances of light music for public radio. Van der Linden travelled extensively throughout Europe to find the right mix of musicians for his orchestra. His refreshing and challenging musical ideas spoke directly to a public starved for a new musical culture. The Metropole Orchestra was popular right from its inception. Dolf van der Linden directed the orchestra for 35 years. Under his leadership, the Metropole Orchestra developped into the stylish string ensemble and complete big band so beloved today. Radio and in later years television broadcasts helped spread the orchestra’s fame. International tours and pan-European broadcasting (EBU) brought the Metropole’s musical message to countless listeners. Soloists from genres ranging from opera to American top jazz stars have joined forces with the Metropole Orchestra and the orchestra contributed greatly to the burgeoning European jazz scene. Perhaps the greatest compliment to the legacy of Dolf van der Linden is that the Metropole Orchestra has maintained its own unique musical personality within an increasing variety of musical styles and technical innovations.
1980-1991
The energetic young Rogier van Otterloo, the son of the famed classical maestro Willem van Otterloo, followed van der Linden as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor. Van Otterloo’s enthusiam was contagious and the orchestra developped into a topclass enemble with the flexibility to work in the newest genres in light music, from rock 'n roll onwards. The Metropole Orkchestra was expanded to include a double rhythm section, one group specializes in traditional light music and jazz with the second group specialized in pop music. Van Otterloo developed into a major player on the international scene as composer and arranger. His musical growth and charisma inspired the orchestra to reach for new heights. The Metropole Orchestra performed in well-known film and television programs and performed with a list of Who’s Who soloists. The fruitful collaboration between the orchestra and its beloved director came to an abrupt and tragic end when Rogier van Otterloo died in 1988 at the age of 46. Several years later, the Metropole Orchestra found an ideal successor to Rogier van Otterloo’s unforgettable contribution: Dick Bakker.
1991 and beyond
Dick Bakker’s arrival brought new life to the Metropole Orchestra and the group made a name for itself thanks to countless appearances in large-scale television productions at home and abroad. A selection of memorable performances include projects with Greek television and performances at Amsterdam’s rock temple, Paradiso. The orchestra moved to a new, modern studio and worked steadily at recordings for radio, television, cds and film. Pop stars and the orchestra crossed into a whole new realm of performance: the courage to experiment walked hand-in-hand with respect for tradition.
International soloists
The Metropole Orchestra prides itself on the glittering array of great artists it has worked with. In alphabetical order, the lineup of stars: Oleta Adams, Charles Aznavour, Burt Bacharach, Kenny Barron, Shirley Bassey, Jeff Beal, Tony Bennett, Andrea Bocelli, Terry Bozzio, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Ray Brown, Patrick Bruel, John Cale, Joe Cocker, Natalie Cole, Pete and Conte Condoli, Elvis Costello, The Creatures, Pete Christlieb, Ronnie Cuber, Eddie Daniels, Manu Dibanco, Céline Dion, George Duke, Brian Eno, Bill Evans, Clare Fischer, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan, Art Garfunkel, Gloria Gaynor, Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, Tom Harrel, Shirley Horn, Freddy Hubbard, Ingrid Jensen, Hank Jones, Junkie XL, Mike Keneally, Nancy King, The King's Singers, Lee Konitz, K's Choice, Hubert Laws, Joe Lovano, Vera Lynn, Kevin Mahogony, Bob Malach, Andy Martin, Nancy Marano, Pat Metheny, Bob Mintzer, Mark Murphy, Peter Nero, Ed Neumeister, The New York Voices, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Alan Parsons, Bill Perkins, Oscar Peterson, Frank Rosselino, Zoot Sims, Sister Sledge, Mike Stern, The Supremes, The Swingle Singers, Lew Tabackin, Clark Terry, Jean 'Toots' Thielemans, Mel Tormé, Steve Vai, Gino Vannelli, Sarah Vaughan, Harvey Wainapel, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Werner, Andy Williams, Nancy Wilson, Within Temptation, and The Yellowjackets.
International composers/arrangers
Michael Abene, Many Albam, Jeff Beal, Bob Brookmeyer, Dori Caymmi, John Clayton, Michel Colombier, Bill Dobbins, Clare Fisher, Steve Gray, Tom Harrell, Peter Herbolzheimer, Bill Holman, Chuck Israels, Jim McNeely, Vince Mendoza, Bob Mintzer, Ed Neumeister, Chuck Owen and Maria Schneider.
Laatste aanpassing op Thursday 6 November 2008
