Jaap van Zweden

Van Zweden was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His father, a pianist, encouraged him to begin violin studies at age five, and he studied music in Amsterdam. At age 15, he won the Oskar Back violin competition; this allowed him to attend the Juilliard School, where he studied with Dorothy DeLay.Tim Madigan, "Conductor Jaap van Zweden's performance applauded from every corner". Dallas Star-Telegram, 28 September 2008.

In 1979, at age 19, van Zweden became concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. He was the youngest violinist ever to assume that position.{{Cite news |last=Molleson |first=Kate |date=2015-07-16 |title=Bruckner: Symphony No 1 CD review – Van Sweden delivers a breath of fresh air |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/16/bruckner-symphony-no-1-cd-review-netherlands-radio-philharmonic-van-zweden |access-date=2025-03-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} He performed as a soloist with many other orchestras as well.

Van Zweden began to work as a conductor after Leonard Bernstein invited him to lead an orchestra rehearsal in Berlin. He has said that he learned much about conducting from observing the various conductors who led Concertgebouw Orchestra concerts. He conducted smaller ensembles initially, and became a full-time conductor in 1997.Scott Cantrell, "New director for DSO". Dallas Morning News, 1 February 2007. His first Dutch conducting post was as chief conductor with the Orkest van het Oosten (Orchestra of the East, or the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra) in Enschede, the Netherlands. He served in this post from 1996 through 2000. Van Zweden was chief conductor of the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague from 2000 until 2005, and he recorded the complete symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven with them. In 2005 he became chief conductor and artistic leader of the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest (RFO; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic) in Hilversum. In 2007, he extended his RFO contract through 2013.{{cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/5947.html | title=Dallas Symphony Names Jaap van Zweden Music Director |work=Playbill Arts|author=Vivien Schweitzer | date=1 February 2007 | access-date=29 August 2007}} In 2010, the orchestra announced that van Zweden would step down from the RFO chief conductorship in 2012 and take the position of honorary guest conductor.{{cite press release | url=http://en.radiofilharmonischorkest.nl/mco_page/detail/20983 | title=Markus Stenz chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra | publisher=Radio Filharmonisch Orkest | date=17 August 2010 | access-date=21 August 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119203827/http://en.radiofilharmonischorkest.nl/mco_page/detail/20983 | archive-date=19 November 2010 }} Van Zweden served as chief conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2011.{{cite news | url=http://www.trouw.nl/novum/article1323900.ece | title=Jaap van Zweden chef-dirigent in Vlaanderen | work=Trouw | date=30 June 2006 | access-date=16 March 2009}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.defilharmonie.be/chef-dirigent-vanaf-2012-2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724021051/http://www.defilharmonie.be/chef-dirigent-vanaf-2012-2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 July 2012 |title=Edo de Waart: Chef-dirigent vanaf 2012–2013 |publisher=deFilharmonie |date=April 2010 |access-date=21 August 2010 }}

Outside Europe, van Zweden made his U.S. conducting debut with the St. Louis Symphony in 1996. His second U.S. guest-conducting appearance was in 2006 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and was highly acclaimed.Scott Cantrell, "Guest conductor Van Zweden makes quite a showing". Dallas Morning News, 17 February 2006. Based on it, the Dallas Symphony named Van Zweden its next music director after Andrew Litton, effective with the 2008-2009 season. His initial contract was for four years, where in the first year he was scheduled to conduct 12 weeks of subscription concerts and then for 15 weeks in the subsequent three years. For the 2007–2008 season, he held the title of music director-designate. In 2009, the Dallas Symphony announced the extension of his contract through the 2015–2016 season.{{cite press release | url=http://www.dallassymphony.com/Press_Releases.aspx?aID=67 | title=The Dallas Symphony Announces Contract Extension For Music Director Jaap van Zweden | publisher=Dallas Symphony | date=October 2009 | access-date=24 October 2009 | archive-date=3 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103012018/http://dallassymphony.com/Press_Releases.aspx?aID=67 | url-status=dead }} In 2013, the orchestra announced a further extension of his contract through 2019.{{cite news | url=http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/scott-cantrell/20131124-dallas-symphony-van-zweden-extend-contract-through-2019.ece | title=Dallas Symphony, Van Zweden extend contract through 2019 | work=Dallas Morning News | author=Scott Cantrell | date=24 November 2013 | access-date=28 November 2013}} In 2016, the Dallas Symphony announced a revised conclusion of van Zweden's tenure for the close of the 2017–2018 season, one season earlier than his most recent contract. With the 2018–2019 season, van Zweden took the title of conductor laureate of the Dallas Symphony for the period from 2018 until 2021.{{cite press release | url=https://www.mydso.com/blog/2016/1/27/jaap-van-zweden-to-join-the-ny-philharmonic.aspx | title=The Dallas Symphony Orchestra congratulates Jaap van Zweden on the announcement of his appointment as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic | publisher=Dallas Symphony Orchestra | date=27 January 2016 | access-date=31 January 2016}}

In 2012, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) announced van Zweden's appointment as its next music director, with an initial contract of four years, starting 1 August 2012.{{cite press release | url=http://www.hkpo.com/eng/press/press_releases/2012/20120116.jsp | title=HKPO Welcomes New Music Director Maestro Jaap van Zweden Takes the Helm from Season 2012/13 | publisher=Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra | date=16 January 2012 | access-date=20 January 2012}} He made his debut as the orchestra's music director on 28 September 2012.{{cite press release | url=http://www.hkphil.org/eng/press/press_releases/2012/20120928.jsp | title=Hong Kong Philharmonic's New Music Director Jaap van Zweden Leads the Orchestra and Violinist Ning Feng in His Inaugural Concert | publisher=Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra | date=28 September 2012 | access-date=11 January 2013}} In 2016, van Zweden extended his contract with the HK Phil through the 2021–2022 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/10/arts/music/jaap-van-zweden-hong-kong-philharmonic-new-york.html?_r=0|title=Jaap van Zweden Extends His Other Gig, 8,000 Miles from David Geffen Hall|last=Cooper|first=Michael|date=9 June 2016|work=New York Times|access-date=9 June 2016}} In 2020, the HK Phil announced the extension of his contract through the 2023–2024 season, at which time he is scheduled to step down and to take the title of conductor laureate.{{cite press release | url=https://www.hkphil.org/press-release/hk-phil-announces-extension-of-jaap-van-zweden-s-music-director-tenure-through-2023-24-season | title=HK Phil announces extension of Jaap van Zweden's Music Director tenure through 2023/24 season | publisher=Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra | date=13 June 2020 | access-date=16 June 2020}}

Van Zweden first guest-conducted the New York Philharmonic in April 2012.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/arts/music/philharmonic-with-jaap-van-zweden-conducting-yuja-wang.html | title=Star Pianist Establishes the Tempo of the Night | author=Anthony Tommasini|author-link=Anthony Tommasini|work=The New York Times|date=13 April 2012|access-date=31 January 2016}} He returned for subsequent engagements in November 2014 and October 2015.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/28/arts/music/jaap-van-zweden-conducts-new-york-philharmonic.html | title=Beethoven, Cyrano and Samplings from Film Scores |author=Anthony Tommasini |author-link=Anthony Tommasini | work=The New York Times | date=27 November 2014 | access-date=31 January 2016}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/arts/music/review-jaap-van-zweden-precise-at-the-new-york-philharmonic.html | title=Review: Jaap van Zweden, Precise at the New York Philharmonic | author=Zachary Woolfe | author-link=Zachary Woolfe | work=The New York Times | date=30 October 2015 | access-date=31 January 2016}} In 2016, the New York Philharmonic announced his appointment as its music director effective with the 2018-2019 season, with an initial contract of five years. Van Zweden served as music director-designate for the 2017-2018 season.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/arts/music/new-york-philharmonic-taps-jaap-van-zweden-as-its-next-maestro.html | title=New York Philharmonic Taps Jaap van Zweden as Its Next Maestro | author=Michael Cooper | work=The New York Times | date=27 January 2016 | access-date=27 January 2016}} In 2021, van Zweden announced his intention to stand down from the New York Philharmonic at the close of the 2023–2024 season.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/arts/music/jaap-van-zweden-new-york-philharmonic.html | title=Jaap van Zweden to Step Down as New York Philharmonic's Maestro | author=Javier C. Hernández | work=The New York Times | date=2021-09-15 | access-date=2021-09-15}} He gave his final performance with the New York Philharmonic at Bravo! Vail on July 20, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Sederquist |first=Ryan |date=2024-07-21 |title=Jaap van Zweden gives final performances with the New York Philharmonic at Bravo! Vail |url=https://www.vaildaily.com/news/jaap-van-zwedens-gives-final-performances-with-the-new-york-philharmonic-at-bravo-vail/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=www.vaildaily.com |language=en-US}}

In 2022, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra announced van Zweden's appointment as its music director, effective January 2024, with an initial contract of five years.{{cite news | url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220904000106&md=20220905003012_BL | title=Dutch conductor named Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director | author=Lee Si-jin | work=Korea Herald | date=2022-09-04 | access-date=2021-09-06}}{{cite news | url=https://www.msn.com/en-sg/lifestyle/topstories/jaap-van-zweden-should-give-seoul-orchestra-a-unique-sound-as-its-music-director-after-his-new-york-phil-and-hong-kong-phil-roles-critic-says/ar-AA11u5uQ | title=Jaap van Zweden should give Seoul orchestra a 'unique sound' as its music director after his New York Phil and Hong Kong Phil roles, critic says | author=Enid Tsui and Jiwon Park | work=South China Morning Post | date=2022-09-05 | access-date=2021-09-06}} In November 2023, van Zweden first guest-conducted the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. In February 2024, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France announced the appointment of van Zweden as its next music director, effective with the 2026-2027 season, with an initial contract of five years.{{cite news | title=Jaap van Zweden nommé directeur musical du Philhar de Radio France | url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/jaap-van-zweden-nomme-directeur-musical-du-philhar-de-radio-france-1523193 | work=France Musique | author= Flore Caron | date=2024-02-27 | accessdate=2024-02-26}}

Since 1983, van Zweden has been married to the artist Aaltje van Zweden–van Buuren. They have four children: a daughter, Anna-Sophia, and three sons, Daniel, Benjamin and Alexander. The van Zwedens have a particular interest in autism, as their son Benjamin is autistic. In 2000, they set up the Papageno Foundation to provide autistic children with music therapy.{{cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/6255.html | title=Conduct Energy. Conduct Heat. |work=Playbill Arts| author=Laura Korenman | date=2 April 2007 | access-date=29 August 2007}}Scott Cantrell, "Dallas Symphony's new director offers views on Dallas, plans for orchestra". Dallas Morning News, 8 September 2008.

In May 2025, Dutch investigative program Pointer reported allegations from over fifty musicians describing intimidating behavior by Van Zweden across multiple orchestras.{{cite web |url=https://pointer.kro-ncrv.nl/musici-orkesten-dirigent-jaap-van-zweden-grensoverschrijdend-gedrag-angst |title=Musici doorbreken stilzwijgen over grensoverschrijdend gedrag van gevierd dirigent Jaap van Zweden |publisher=Pointer (KRO-NCRV) |date=22 May 2025 |language=nl}} Sources claimed some musicians used medication or called in sick to avoid working with him.{{cite web |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2568231-jaap-van-zweden-beschuldigd-van-wangedrag-dirigent-zegt-veeleisend-te-zijn |title=Jaap van Zweden beschuldigd van wangedrag, dirigent zegt veeleisend te zijn |publisher=NOS |date=22 May 2025 |language=nl}} Van Zweden acknowledged being demanding but stated this should never excuse a work environment causing "tension or the use of sedatives." He expressed shock at the allegations and openness to criticism about his methods.{{cite web |url=https://pointer.kro-ncrv.nl/musici-orkesten-dirigent-jaap-van-zweden-grensoverschrijdend-gedrag-angst |title=Musici doorbreken stilzwijgen over grensoverschrijdend gedrag van gevierd dirigent Jaap van Zweden |publisher=Pointer (KRO-NCRV) |date=22 May 2025 |language=nl}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

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• {{official|https://www.jaapvanzweden.com/}}
• [http://www.stichtingpapageno.nl/index_ex.html Papageno Foundation website (Dutch language)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090731194921/http://en.radiofilharmonischorkest.nl/mco_page/conductors RFO conductors profile]

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{{succession box | title=Chief Conductor, Residentie Orchestra | before=Yevgeny Svetlanov | years=2000–2005 | after=Neeme Järvi}}

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Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra]] | before=Edo de Waart | years=2005–2012 | after=Markus Stenz}}

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Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:Dutch male conductors (music)

Category:Dutch male classical violinists

Category:Dutch expatriates in Hong Kong

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Category:20th-century Dutch conductors (music)

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Category:Autism activists

Category:21st-century Dutch classical violinists

Category:Concertmasters of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Category:Music directors of the New York Philharmonic

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Category:Chief conductors of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra