Metropole Orkest

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Metropole Orchestra in Muziekgebouw Eindhoven

When you think of an orchestra, you think of classical music. The Metropole Orchestra (MO) however, does not cover that genre. What it does play is jazz, pop, soul, funk, cabaret, musicals, film music and world music. Contemporary and music composed long ago. The MO has shared the stage with famous artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny, Brian Eno, Herbie Hancock, The Basement Jaxx and Bono. The orchestra teams up with contemporary talents such as Jacob Collier, Caro Emerald, Kovacs, Robert Glasper, Within Temptation, Woodkid, Snarky Puppy, and Gregory Porter as well.

The Metropole Orchestra enjoys worldwide recognition as the professional pop and jazz orchestra and, with its unique line-up, has a pioneering role. Thus, the orchestra pushes forward new talents such as Laura Mvula, Snarky Puppy and Michael Kiwanuka, loving spectacle and experimenting.

Over the past 70 years, the MO has produced over 150 albums and collaborated on thousands of radio and TV broadcasts. This means that more than 600 arrangements are made every year across genres. In recent years, the orchestra was nominated no less than 21 times for a Grammy and collaborated on 4 Grammy-winning productions. Most recently for 'Best Contemporary Instrumental Album' in 2016 with Snarky Puppy and in 2020 with Jacob Collier for his arrangement of 'All Night Long' (Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals).

Despite its musical diversity, the MO has an unmistakable sound, style and identity. Metropole Orchestra does anything that can touch people. After all, that is the essence of music.

Conductors

Since August 2020, the Metropole Orchestra has appointed three prominent conductors: honorary conductors Jules Buckley (40 - Great Britain), Vince Mendoza (58 - United States) and permanent guest conductor Miho Hazama (33 - Japan). The varied nature of the orchestra is reflected by these three internationally renowned conductors and arrangers, coming from three different continents. Thanks to them, the Metropole Orchestra also has access to a large international network within pop and jazz music, this provides a solid basis for the full range of its repertoire.

History

On 25 November 1945, the Metropole Orchestra could be heard for the first time on Radio Herrijzend Nederland. The MO was founded at the instigation of the Royal Family and the Dutch government in exile to play 'light music' at the very highest level and to bring joy and connection to the damaged post-war Dutch society. A role the only non-classical orchestra still plays with full conviction more than 75 years on: no performing arts institution reaches so many and such diverse groups in society. On 18 July 2013, the Metropole Orchestra Foundation was formally established. The first step in the actual independence of an orchestra that had at that time spent 67 years under various parent organisations within Dutch Public Broadcasting.