The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Karina Canellakis are extending their successful collaboration. Canellakis, who has been Chief Conductor since September 2019, will continue with the RFO until the end of July 2027.

“An unparalleled five-star experience”, the Dutch journal Trouw wrote after Karina Canellakis' inauguration concert as Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in October 2019. After two successful concert seasons together, in which beautiful orchestral productions, new concert formats and special corona projects took place, both Canellakis and the orchestra wish to continue their collaboration. Canellakis will lead the orchestra for a minimum of 10 weeks a year in productions for Dutch public broadcasting, the NTR Saturday Matinee series and AVROTROS Sunday Morning series in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and the AVROTROS Friday concert series in TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht. Both concert series are broadcast live on the Dutch public radio channel NPO Radio 4. In addition, Canellakis will make a number of recordings with the orchestra.

With this contract extension, Karina Canellakis and the orchestra confirm their special bond, which was recognizable from their very first rehearsal together. Canellakis:
“I have had a special musical bond with this orchestra all the way back from our very first rehearsal together in 2018. I am so thrilled to continue this collaboration with the RFO for another four years, and am extremely proud of how beautifully the orchestra has been playing and how they have managed to continue to make music passionately despite the enormous challenges we have faced in the past 18 months due to the pandemic. I look forward to many more years together, again with full audiences and a broad scope of rich and exciting repertoire.”

Roland Kieft, General Manager of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra:
“I am extremely happy that we can extend our collaboration with Karina for an additional four years. We are all extremely grateful for her first seasons with us. Even during the corona pandemic, Karina’s innate musical gifts and ability to connect both with the musicians and audiences have made a deep impression. I am convinced that the upcoming years will be even stronger.”  

Karina Canellakis will continue to work alongside Principal Guest Conductor James Gaffigan and Benjamin Goodson, the Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Choir.