Concertgebouw

​On the 26th of January 2026, the VU Orkest took over the Main Hall of the Concertgebouw for their winter concert, "Rendez-vous à Paris."

The VU Orkest is a high-level student orchestra from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. They aren't professionals, but they tackle some of the hardest music out there. The theme was 20th-century Paris—a time when the city was a massive melting pot for French, Russian, and American composers.

The Program:

• Gershwin – An American in Paris: You’ll hear the famous taxi horns and the feeling of a tourist walking through the city streets.

• Ravel – Piano Concerto for the Left Hand: A dark, powerful piece written for a pianist who lost his right arm in WWI. Vera Kooper is the soloist.

• Stravinsky – Petrushka (1946 version): A vivid, chaotic story about a puppet that comes to life. It’s loud, rhythmic, and full of energy.

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