In October 2026, the National Mixed Youth Choir was invited to participate in two special projects, which were organized under the banner of Truly Grand took place at the Ziggo Dome.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra wanted to bring classical music to the Ziggo Dome and gave two internationally renowned musicians carte blanche to do so:
- Ivan Fischer performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which centers on connection and brotherhood. A special sing-along project was a key part of this performance.
- Joe Hisaishi shared his atmospheric and enchanting musical world with an audience that had traveled to Amsterdam from all over the world to attend this special concert.
It was also a truly memorable experience for the singers of the National Mixed Youth Choir.
First of all, there were the intensive preparations. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is a demanding work, both vocally and musically. Joe Hisaishi’s film music also required a thorough immersion in his musical world in order to convey the right sound and energy. Both projects, in and of themselves, offered a valuable learning experience.
On top of that, there were questions about the production itself. What’s it like to perform in such a large hall, in front of an audience of up to 13,000 people? What does it mean when the orchestra and choir need to be amplified, everyone is being filmed, and the musicians appear on giant screens? And what about the acoustics? Can classical music sound just as beautiful in the Ziggo Dome as it does in a traditional concert hall?
The answer turned out to be a resounding yes. It sounded absolutely beautiful, and classical music proved to be right at home at the Ziggo Dome as well.
Below you'll find the aftermovie of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and a few newspaper reviews.
“Behind her, the singers of the National Mixed Youth Choir, by the way, put on a top-notch performance throughout the entire second half of the evening. Would it be difficult to sing in Japanese?”
