Conductors
The orchestra has had just seven chief conductors since it was founded in 1888. Each one had a great influence on the development of the orchestra’s distinctive sound and repertoire.
Seven chief conductors
Seven chief conductors
title conductors
title conductors
Permanent conductors
In addition to the seven chief conductors, the Concertgebouw Orchestra has had several ‘second principal conductors’ and other permanent conductors. In the new millennium, two conductors who each made a significant contribution each received the title of honorary guest conductor.
Gustav Kogel
second principal conductor 1908-1910
Karl Muck
second principal conductor 1921-1925
Pierre Monteux
second principal conductor 1925-1934
Bruno Walter
second principal conductor 1934-1939
Rafael Kubelik
permanent conductors 1949-1955
George Szell
permanent conductors 1958-1961
Eugen Jochum
permanent conductors 1961-1964
Kirill Kondrashin
permanent conductors 1979-1981
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
honorary guest conductor 2000-2016
Iván Fischer
honorary guest conductor since 2021