The battle for the golden baton is back on this Sunday, December 3rd. In a new season, none other than artist and writer Pepijn Lanen, musician Frédérique Spigt, singer Ammar Bozoglu, actor Tjitske Reidinga, stand-up comedian Glodi Lugungu, presenter and actor Chris Zegers, and presenter and journalist Roos Moggré dive into the world of four-four time, sheet music, and conducting patterns. Frits Sissing is their trusted guide throughout this musical challenge.
How important a conductor is and how complex this role can be becomes brutally clear in Maestro: some masterpieces emerge from the battle unrecognizable and battered when an inexperienced candidate takes the podium as the orchestra's leader. But through a combination of newly discovered talent and plenty of practice, something magical happens on stage. And this season perhaps even more so, as various enchanting musical pieces take center stage in an episode dedicated entirely to famous fairy tales. During the holidays, the candidates bring extra magic with Christmas classics and symphonic fireworks.
New repertoire
This season the candidates conduct many new popular classical works that haven't been featured in the program before. But the beloved classics aren't missing either, with the feared final piece as the grand finale: Beethoven's Fifth. Who can keep their composure, who has the best feel for the music, and who wields the baton most skillfully? Who will become the seventh Maestro in the program's history? The aspiring conductors are accompanied by the Maestro orchestra, which, like last season, consists of freelance musicians.
New jury chair
Conductor and pianist Ed Spanjaard is the new jury chair this season. For years he was the chief conductor of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra and the Nieuw Ensemble and worked with renowned composers. In 2002, he was responsible for the music at the wedding of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Now comes a new challenge as he, together with Dominic Seldis and Isabelle van Keulen, provides commentary and scores for the seven participants at the podium.
Maestro, starting December 3rd at 8:25 PM on AVROTROS on NPO 1
