When the new chief conductor Duncan Ward took office at Philharmonie Zuidnederland in 2021, expectations were high. Despite a turbulent year, they all seem to have come true.
“I feel like we’re flying together now.” he says after the dress rehearsal for the orchestra’s last series of concerts.
non-musical
The Brit Ward is only 33 years old and comes from a non-musical family. Still, he had a great interest in music and he started listening and trying to play the piano early on. The eccentric thirty-something is now seen as one of the most versatile conductors of his generation.
Travelling a lot
Ward has worked with orchestras such as Orchester de Paris, Staatskapelle Dresden, London Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. In January 2020, he was named Artistic Director of the Mediterranean Youth Orchester by the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, a position he will hold until 2023.
forward
In addition, there is also the job as chief conductor of Philharmonie Zuidnederland. Before that, he is only in the Netherlands for about ten weeks. He divides that time between Maastricht and Eindhoven and half in Maastricht, the orchestra’s two main locations.
face masks
Ward started at the Philharmonie during the corona pandemic. That brought its own challenges. “Fortunately, we were able to continue rehearsing, but remotely and with mouth caps.” But he prefers to leave that behind: “I’m really looking forward to the upcoming projects and everything I’m going to do with the orchestra.”
Fresh wind
Ward sees Philharmonie Zuid as a company of flexible, curious and driven people. “They open up, commit themselves more and more and also show their personality.” The love is mutual. “Duncan brings youthfulness, energy and fun. It is really a breath of fresh air,” says horn player Christiaan Moolenaars, who has already seen many conductors pass by.
Energetic
Second violinist Christina Büttner is also visibly enthusiastic. “He is so energetic, you can see it in his face, his expression, everything is alive! You can really hear that in the orchestra. We’ve been working with him for three weeks now and that’s really nice!”
Maastricht
Although Ward will leave for other projects after the concerts, the orchestra does not have to worry that he will not return next season. The conductor is now also devoted to the city of Maastricht, where he temporarily rents an apartment at the Vrijthof. “I do miss Maastricht when I’m not there, it always feels great to come back,” he says. “It’s such a beautiful city, with a historic ambiance.” He also appreciates the international character of the city. “And the city combines the old with the new.”
symphonic mob
The young conductor is also looking forward to the very first edition of the ‘Symphonic Mob’ in Maastricht on June 19. This will be a huge concert in which amateurs and professionals can participate in the Entre-Deux shopping center. Under the direction of Ward, of course.