Based in Arnhem, the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra gives some hundred symphony concerts each season in the province of Gelderland, in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, and abroad, this last including tours to Spain, Austria, Germany and Hungary. In 2007 the orchestra toured Japan for the first time and returned there in spring 2009. Martin Seighart was chief conductor and artistic adviser of the orchestra from the 2003–2004 season until January 2009. Kenichiro Kobayashi was appointed permanent conductor from the 2006–2007 season, and Nikolai Alexeev permanent guest conductor in 2002. Former chief conductors include Lawrence Renes, Roberto Benzi and Yoav Talmi. Other conductors who have regularly made guest appearances with the orchestra in the past include Bernard Klee, Hans Vonk, Jaap van Zweden and Roy Goodman. Soloists such as Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Leif Ove Andsnes, Zoltán Kocsis, Nicolai Znaider and Akiko Suwanai are also among those who have performed with the orchestra. Recordings by the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra include the symphonies of Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Berlioz, with an enthusiastic reception by the press in both Japan and The Netherlands for recordings of Mahler’s Sixth Symphony and Das Lied von der Erde.

Photo courtesy of Bokkie Vink

Roberto Benzi was born in Marseille of Italian parents. Musicians themselves, his parents realised early on that their son possessed exceptional musical talents. It was in Paris, however, that the young Roberto began to study with distinguished teachers and was able to consolidate and develop his musical gifts. From 1947 on he studied conducting with André Cluytens. These lessons were to influence his entire future. His own débuts as a conductor in 1948 marked the beginning of a career which in over 50 years has never ceased to flourish.

The young conductor’s precocious fame led him to star in two feature films: “Prelude to Glory” in 1949 and “Call to Destiny” in 1952. These films won widespread acclaim; even before beginning his university studies, Roberto Benzi was a celebrity.

In 1954 Benzi conducted his first opera, Rossini’s Barbiere di Siviglia. At the age of 21 (1959–60 season) he was engaged by the Paris Grand Opera Gamier to conduct R. Rouleau’s magnificent new production of Carmen. This was an important event, since Carmen had previously been performed only at the Opéra Comique. The first opera ever to be filmed live by French television, the production went on to tour Japan in 1961.

Since these beginnings Roberto Benzi has conducted around the world. Among the most important orchestras he has led are: the Orchestre National de France and Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique; the Orchestre de Paris; the Parisien Colonne and Lamoureux orchestras; the London Symphony; the London Philharmonic; the Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestra; the Stockholm Philharmonic; the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; the Zurich Tonhalle; the Academia Santa Cecilia di Roma; the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam; the Wiener Symphoniker; the NDR of Hamburg; the Dresdner Staatskapelle; the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; the Czech Philharmonic; the Leningrad Philharmonic; the State Orchestra of the USSR; the Moscow Philharmonic; the Israel Philharmonic; the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras; the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Montreal Symphony.

The list of opera houses is equally impressive: the Paris Grand Opéra Carnier and Paris Opéra Comique; the Metropolitan Opera, New York; the National Theatre of Prague; The The Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie (National Theatre) Brussels; the Teatro Verdi, Trieste; the Sophia National Theatre etc.

Roberto Benzi has also conducted at numerous festivals: in Holland, Aix-en-Provonce, Montreux, Lausanne, Prague, Gulbenkian (Portugal), Robin Hood Dell (Philadelphia), Blossom Music Center (Cleveland), Saratoga (New York) etc.

His vast repertoire reflects the eclecticism of his musical tastes. His recordings of Philips, since 1960, include symphonic works, ballets and operas. Benzi has also orchestrated several works of Brahms, Rossini and Erik Satie, published respectively by: Peters, Editions Françaises de Musique (Billaudot), Editions Lemoine and Editions Salabert. He has taught classes in orchestral conducting on numerous occasions, mainly in France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Founder and director of the Orchestre de Bordeaux-Aquitaine from 1973 to 1987, Roberto Benzi gave it international status. Under his direction the ensemble was enlarged to 100 musicians and toured in several foreign countries. Among the orchestra’s many recordings for EMI/Pathé-Marconi, Calliope and Forlane, the CD devoted to Albert Roussel (Forlane) received the 1985 prize awarded by the French Ministry of Culture and the Academy of French Recording. In recent years, Roberto Benzi has occupied concurrent posts in Holland—that of musical director of the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands, and musical director of the Arnhem Philharmonic.

He holds the rank of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour, and was decorated as Knight of the Royal Order of Orange-Nassau by her Majesty, Queen of the Netherlands.

Born in Liège in 1822, César Franck was originally intended by his father for a career as a virtuoso pianist. In Paris his nationality excluded him at first from the Conservatoire, where he eventually failed to achieve the necessary distinction as a performer, turning his attention rather to composition. In 1846 he left home and went to earn his living in Paris as a teacher and organist, winning particular fame in the second capacity at the newly built church of Ste Clotilde, with its Cavaillé-Coll organ. He drew to himself a loyal and devoted circle of pupils and in 1871 won some official recognition as the nominated successor of Benoist as organ professor at the Conservatoire. A man of gentle character, known to his pupils as ‘Pater seraphicus’, he exercised considerable influence through his classes and performances although he remained, as a composer, something of an outsider in a Paris interested largely in opera.

Orchestral Music

Franck’s best-known orchestral works are the Symphonic Variations for solo piano and orchestra and the Symphony in D minor, completed in 1888 and first performed at a Conservatoire concert the following year. A brief series of symphonic poems includes the early Ce qu’on entend sur la montagne (‘What is heard on the mountain’), based on Victor Hugo’s Le Chasseur maudit (‘The Accursed Huntsman’); Les Djinns, again after Hugo; and Psyché, a symphonic poem with chorus.

Sacred Music

Franck wrote a number of large-scale choral works on biblical subjects, as well as smaller-scale works for occasional or liturgical use. This last category includes the well-known Panis angelicus of 1872, originally for tenor, organ, harp, cello and double bass. Panis angelicus was later interpolated into the three-voice Mass of 1861.

Chamber Music

Franck wrote one violin sonata, which, like his symphony, is united by a cyclic use of thematic material that connects the movements. There is also a fine piano quintet, completed in 1879, and a final string quartet, written in 1890.

Organ Music

As a very distinguished organist, Franck wrote remarkably little for the instrument on which his improvisations had won him fame and pupils. Organ compositions published include Trois Chorals of 1890 and Trois Pièces, written a dozen years earlier. The six organ pieces published in 1868 are entitled Fantaisie; Grande Pièce Symphonique; Prélude, fugue et variation; Pastorale; Prière; and Final.

Piano Music

Franck’s earlier piano music was designed for his own virtuoso performance. Two later works remain in general repertoire: the Prélude, choral et fugue of 1884 and the Prélude, aria et final, completed in 1887.