| Metropole Orkest | |
| Type: | Jazz orchestra |
| Location: | Hilversum, Netherlands |
| Principal Conductor: | Jules Buckley |
The Metropole Orkest is a jazz and pop orchestra based in the Netherlands, and is the largest full-time ensemble of its kind in the world. A hybrid orchestra, it combines jazz, big band and classical symphony orchestra styles. Comprising between 52 and 97 musicians, it is versatile across many musical forms, and is equipped with a "double rhythm section" – one for pop and rock, and one for jazz based music.
The Metropole Orkest was founded in 1945 by Dolf van der Linden at the urging of officials from Netherlands Public Broadcasting, which manages and subsidizes the orchestra. The name of the group was suggested by van der Linden, one of the musicians, who led the ensemble for 35 years until he stepped down in 1980.[1] He was replaced by Rogier van Otterloo, who led the group until his sudden death in 1988. Dick Bakker then held the baton until 2005, when Vince Mendoza took over.[2] He gave the orchestra a more international character. In August 2013 Jules Buckley took over the position of chief conductor from Mendoza.
The Metropole Orkest is a regular feature at the North Sea Jazz festival and the annual Holland Festival along with many TV and radio programs. The Dutch film and television industry relies heavily on the Metropole Orkest for its film scores. From 2005 to 2013 the Metropole was under the baton of four-time Grammy Award winner Vince Mendoza and performed frequently on the concert stage, at festivals and on recordings of both Dutch and international artists.[3]
In European radio broadcasting, its closest counterparts are the BBC Concert Orchestra, and in particular the now defunct BBC Radio Orchestra which had similar instrumentation. The ensembles often performed with the same guest conductors and soloists, using the same bespoke arrangements.
The Metropole Orkest is known for its performances of world music and classic jazz works. It has worked with many prominent artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Jarreau, New York Voices, Tori Amos, Bono, Brian Eno, Hardwell, Elvis Costello, Within Temptation, Snarky Puppy, Marcus Miller, Todd Rundgren, Jacob Collier, Markus Stockhausen, Louis Cole, Triptykon, Cory Wong, Cory Henry, Basement Jaxx[4] and Robbie Williams.[5]
The Dutch government was considering withdrawing funding from the orchestra but, at the last minute, in December 2012, politicians secured funding for the orchestra until 2017.[6]
Starting on 31 January 2017, an online survey was held to select a group for a joint project. Six months later, Epica was elected from 650 suggestions, winning the most of 60,000 votes.[7] Without revealing the title of the existing Epica song that was to be recorded, a joint studio session was scheduled to take place in Hilversum on 13 December 2017.[8]
In the build-up to a Dutch parliamentary debate on the culture budgets, scheduled for 30 May 2018, the Metropole Orkest announced that by 2018 the subsidy budget cuts in the preceding years had caused a 50% reduction in the amount of work the orchestra could offer its musicians. Many of its musicians were no longer able to make a living from just their work at the orchestra, and faced problems combining the irregular work hours as a musician with part-time jobs needed to supplement their income. The orchestra objected to the situation as described, responding that it feared that the orchestra would diminish in quality or ultimately be forced to shut down completely.[9]
| 7 First violins | 3 Flutes |
| 6 Second violins | 4 Saxophones/clarinets |
| 5 Violas | 4 Double reeds |
| 4 Cellos | 4 Trumpets |
| 2 Bass viols | 4 Horns |
| Bass guitar/Bass viol | 3 Trombones |
| Guitar | Bass trombone |
| Piano | Tuba/euphonium |
| Harp | Electronic keyboards |
| 3 Percussionists | Mallet keyboards |
| Drum kit | Tympani |
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Certifications | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT [11] | BEL (Vl) [12] | BEL (Wa) [13] | FIN [14] | FRA [15] | GER [16] | NED [17] | SWI [18] | ||||
| 1998 | The Latin Side
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001 | Live Met Het Metropole Orkest
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | ||
| 2004 | MetroPaul: Live In Het Concertgebouw
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | — | ||
| 2006 | My Flame Burns Blue
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 68 | — | ||
| 2006 | The Look of Love: Burt Bacharach Songbook
| — | 27 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | NVPI: 2× Platinum[19] | |
| 2007 | Sound Theories Vol. I & II
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007 | Who'll Speak for Love: Burt Bacharach Songbook II
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | NVPI: 2× Platinum[20] | |
| 2008 | The Big Band Theory
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | ||
| 2008 | Black Symphony
| 36 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 77 | 17 | 3 | 25 | ||
| 2009 | Ivan Lins & The Metropole Orchestra
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Won Best Brazilian Album at the 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. | |
| 2009 | Tears Go By
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | — | ||
| 2009 | In Een Ander Licht
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | ||
| 2010 | Crush
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010 | 54
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | A nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement went to Vince Mendoza for arranging "Carlos", a track on this album, at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. | |
| 2010 | Alive Till I'm Dead
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | BPI | |
| 2010 | Moke + Metropole Orkest
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | ||
| 2010 | A Tribute to Billie Holiday
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | — | ||
| 2011 | Basement Jaxx vs. Metropole Orkest
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011 | Live with The Metropole Orchestra
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | — | ||
| 2012 | The Wine of Silence
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 98 | — | ||
| 2012 | Better Get Hit in Your Soul: A Tribute to the Music of Charles Mingus
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012 | Gold Dust
| — | 49 | — | — | 42 | 84 | 12 | 45 | ||
| 2013 | Markus Stockhausen and The Metropole Orkest
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | Sweet Soul Music
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | ||
| 2013 | Lean on Me
| — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | ||
| 2013 | Perfect Vision – The Esquivel Sound
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Nominated for Edison Award for World Music | |
| 2013 | Amsterdam Meets New Tango
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014 | Live in Holland
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014 | At Abbey Road Studios
| — | 184 | 155 | — | — | — | 26 | — | Nominated for BBC Sound of 2013. Also nominated for the Critics' Choice Award at the 2013 Brit Awards. | |
| 2015 | Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame – The Original Soundtrack
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015 | Sylva
| — | 118 | 161 | — | 131 | — | 20 | — | Won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards (2016). | |
| 2015 | Clear Day
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Won the Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year in 2016. | |
| 2016 | Compleet, Volmaakt, Het Einde
| — | 104 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | ||
| 2017 | MO x Caro Emerald by Grandmono
| 52 | |||||||||
| 2018 | [22]
| — | |||||||||
| 2018 | Scripted Orkestra
| — | Nominated for Best Classical Album at the 2019 A2IM Libera Awards.[23] | ||||||||
| 2018 | If You Really Want
| — | Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[24] | ||||||||
| 2018 | What Heat
| Nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[25] | |||||||||
| 2018 | Djesse Vol. 1[26]
| "All Night Long" won Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[27] [28] | |||||||||
| 2019 | Melkweg
| ||||||||||
| 2020 | Brian Eno with Metropole Orkest
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020 | Live with the Metropole Orkest | ||||||||||
| 2021 | Ledisi Sings Nina | ||||||||||
| 2022 | XXV
| ||||||||||
| Year | Award | Production |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Best MPB Album: Ivan Lins & The Metropole Orchestra, with Ivan Lins | |
| 2016 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Sylva with Snarky Puppy | |
| 2020 | Best arrangement, instruments and vocals "All night long" with Jacob Collier and Take 6 | |
In the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards of 2011, Best Instrumental Arrangement went to Vince Mendoza for arranging Carlos, a track from the album 54 which the Metropole had recorded with John Scofield.
In 1996, the Metropole Orchestra performed the score of Antonia, a film which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. They all also featured in "All Night Long" by Jacob Collier which won an award for the "Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals" at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.