The 28-year-old West Flemish conductor Martijn Dendievel opens this concert season with the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen. Less than 800 meters from where it all began for Martijn, he now takes the stage as guest conductor. Concertgebouw Brugge will be the first stop for ‘Martijn opent met Dvořák’ (5.10.23). The concert series then moves on to CC Zwaneberg (6.10), DeSingel (8.10) and Muziekcentrum De Bijloke (14.10).
Martijn Dendievel at work
From 5 to 14 October, Martijn kicks off the new concert season and, together with the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen, presents ‘Martijn opent met Dvořák’. His ‘Seventh Symphony’, full of Bohemian themes and personal tragedy, is the fascinating starting point. Tchaikovsky, a friend and admirer of Dvořák, drew from a very different source for his ‘First Piano Concerto’: overwhelmingly romantic with cosmopolitan flair. Pianist Tanguy de Williencourt, known for his Franck recording with the orchestra, brings a surprising interpretation with his balanced playing, lively rhythm and poetic power. Martijn opens with Dvořák at Concertgebouw Brugge, CC Zwaneberg Heist-op-den-Berg, DE SINGEL Antwerp and Muziekcentrum De Bijloke.
International
Martijn conquers not only Flanders but is also a welcome guest internationally. He won the prestigious Deutscher Dirigentenpreis. Martijn is regularly invited to conduct orchestras such as the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale Bologna, Philharmonie Zuidnederland, Tonkünstler-Orchester Wien, Bamberger Symphoniker, WDR Sinfonieorchester, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana and Sinfonia Varsovia. In July 2023, it became known that Martijn will become chief conductor of the Hofer Symphoniker from the 2024-25 season.
Klassiek Centraal was the first classical music news source to write that Martijn Dendievel would conquer the world and become a celebrity. Well, this ‘prediction’ is clearly becoming reality. We nominated him in 2019 for the Gouden Label Debuut.
From young listener to guest conductor of the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen
The Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen has always played an important role in the development of his talent: first as a young listener in the audience, then from 2018 as assistant conductor. In this way he built up the necessary experience in all aspects of conducting. Martijn Dendievel will serve as associate conductor of the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen over the next three seasons.
“The orchestra and I, of course, have known each other for a while, but this is a milestone. And a great honor: it doesn't often happen that within one orchestra you get the chance to grow from assistant to guest conductor (Martijn Dendievel).”
Intendant Jos Roeden states: "The Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen considers supporting a future generation of Belgian musicians one of its primary tasks and has been guiding Martijn in his artistic development for years. I regard Martijn as one of the revelations of the international classical music world and am proud of his appointment as a permanent guest conductor. It is a logical next step in the close collaboration between Martijn and the orchestra."
The musicians of the orchestra have watched him grow in recent years into one of the most promising conductors of the moment: driven, sensitive, good-humored and possessing breathtaking musical depth. To be continued!
Becoming a conductor
At the age of eleven, Martijn already knew he wanted to become a conductor, and now, just over fifteen years later, he is conducting the opening concert of the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen. Martijn took his first musical steps at the Stedelijk Conservatorium Brugge on violin and later studied cello, percussion and harpsichord. Before his fifteenth birthday he was admitted to the Royal Conservatory Brussels. Over the years he continued to develop in cello, music theory and orchestral conducting. In July 2022 he completed his master's degree in orchestral conducting at the HfM Franz Liszt Weimar.
- More info on the website Martijn opent met Dvořák
- Video
- Photo: © Wouter Maeckelberghe – conductor Martijn Dendievel