Legendary Conductor Edo de Waart Concludes Remarkable 60-Year Career with Retirement Announcement

A Historic Announcement in Dutch Musical History

Dutch conductor Edo de Waart has announced his retirement after an extraordinary career spanning six decades. The announcement was marked by a special celebration in Hilversum with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, where he held the position of Principal Conductor from 1989 to 2004 and maintains the title of Conductor Laureate.

An Illustrious Career Across Continents

De Waart’s remarkable journey began as an Assistant Conductor to Leonard Bernstein at the New York Philharmonic, after which he returned to Holland to serve as Assistant Conductor to Bernard Haitink at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Throughout his distinguished career, he has led some of the world’s most prestigious musical institutions, including the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Dutch National Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

Legacy and Achievements

His contributions to opera include conducting at prestigious venues such as Bayreuth, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Opéra Bastille, Santa Fe Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera. De Waart’s extensive recording catalog includes releases for major labels including Philips, Virgin, EMI, Telarc, and RCA. His achievements have been recognized with knighthood in the Order of the Netherlands Lion, appointment as an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia, and as an Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Final Chapter

De Waart, now aged eighty-two, made his retirement announcement due to ill health. During his farewell speech, he reflected on his time with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, stating, “I had the best time of my life here: this is an orchestra where people treat each other kindly, without misunderstandings.”

The conductor currently resides in Maple Bluff, a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife Rebecca Dopp and their two children, where he will enjoy his retirement years.