VERSATILE, CREATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL

The Maestro Jules Orchestra (MJO) started out as the Nederlands Theaterorkest (NThO/ Dutch Theatre Orchestra). It changed its name to reflect the success of its artistic director’s series of Maestro Jules Reveals concerts in which it plays a prominent role.

A group of talented young musicians – including conductor Jules van Hessen – decided to set up the orchestra in 1985, because they couldn’t wait for scarce positions in the large Dutch symphony orchestras to become available. What’s more, there weren’t any commercial orchestras available at the time for hire within the business world. The Dutch Theatre Orchestra became the first commercial or non-subsidized orchestra in the Netherlands and specialized in customizing its programmes to its clients’ wishes. In effect, they metaphorically killed two birds with one stone!

And to this day, the orchestra still comprises highly motivated, professional musicians who enjoy the challenge of going the extra mile for audiences and clients alike. It regularly receives assignments to accompany soloists, in addition to performing its own productions.

The orchestra’s portfolio remains versatile and extensive, from performing and recording film music through participating in festivals and musical theatre productions to collaborating with big-name artists such as Christopher Lee and Johnny Logan. It was this versatility and its musicians’ infectious enthusiasm that convinced the winner of the 1989 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, -the late- baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, to perform a series of concerts in the Netherlands. And since then, the line-up has included greats such as the legendary Klezmer clarinettist Giora Feidman and YouTube phenomenon Alexander Hrustevich.

Recordings include that of a particularly memorable concert in Amsterdam’s Portuguese Synagogue in 2018, starring the three internationally renowned Cantors. The American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) still regularly broadcasts this recording around the world. What’s more, the sequel “ The New York Cantors ” met with equally resounding acclaim.

The orchestra often plays an integral role in Jules van Hessen’s presentations about leadership and teamwork, as well as his Maestro Jules Reveals formula. So, what is this magic formula? First, he explains the piece with supporting images and by having the orchestra play live excerpts. Next, they perform the work in full following an intermission. Over 700,000 television viewers in the Netherlands already experienced his unique introduction to classical music first-hand.

And it should be no surprise to discover that the Maestro Jules Orchestra is a regular guest at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, where it performs its own productions and low-threshold programmes tailored to meet its clients’ requirements.