The iconic Koninklijk Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (Royal Concert Hall) is a testament to the enduring power of classical music. As one of the world's most celebrated concert halls, Concertgebouw's gorgeous architecture and superb acoustics place it among the finest concert halls in the world, alongside Boston's Symphony Hall and Vienna's Musikverein. Experts say its acoustics are especially suited for the Late Romantic repertoires of Mahler, Debussy, and Strauss. Undeniably breathtaking when you hear pieces of these composers performed, and yet, on the very same stage, Concertgebouw has hosted, to equal awe, rock legends including Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, and The Who!
Despite the Romantics and Rockstars who've performed within, what impresses me most is a stunning sculpture that adorns the building's rooftop - a symbol that truly captures the essence of this cultural landmark.
Built during a Dutch cultural renaissance, Dutch architect Adolf Leonard van Gendt designed the original Concertgebouw in the mid-1880s. Sensing his building needed something extra, the architect commissioned sculptor Theo Gossen in 1886 to make an adornment that would ensure it truly stood out. Owing to his reputation as the God of protection and divine patron of the arts, Apollo is often depicted with a bow or lyre in Greek mythology. So thanks to this godly chap, the lyre became a symbol of music's power and beauty. Inspired by Apollo's artistic exploits, Gossen chose to sculpt a lyre to represent the building's purpose. When it was hoisted onto the Concertgebouw roof just before its grand opening on April 11, 1888, Gossen's bronze Apollo's Lyre instantly found a perfect, permanent home in Amsterdam. Well, almost permanent.
Since the building's opening on a rainy Wednesday evening in 1888, the lyre on Concertgebouw would go through three restorations in 1957, 1993, and 2021. It's the second one that inspired this blog. A few weeks ago, while having brunch at a bistro in the East of Amsterdam, I spoke with a gentleman named Rinus van Huisstede. I heard from his daughter that Rinus was somehow connected to the lyre of Concertgebouw. So I asked him about it. The story he told took me by utter surprise. You see, while most public records of the lyre state it went through restorations, the fact is, in 1993, a decision was made to remove and retire Theo Gossen's original lyre when a replacement was offered by a local plumber. And I was having a brunch conversation with the man who built the new rooftop adornment of Koninklijk Concertgebouw!
A flat piece of stainless steel became the starting point of Concertgebouw's recreated lyre by Rinus van Huisstede. From this flat genesis, he shaped the lyre into a form matching the original design, then wrapped it in COR-TEN steel, a weathering steel that eliminates the need for painting by forming a stable rust-like patina after several years of exposure to weather. Finally, a layer of gold paint completed the new sculpture that stood 3.5 meters tall, weighed 300 kilograms, and took four months to complete. Rinus then personally placed the new lyre on the roof of Concertgebouw on the 25th of February, 1993, a moment which saw him complete the lyre's journey from conception to installation.
Atop Koninklijk Concertgebouw today stands Apollo's Lyre, radiating with the brilliance of the Sun itself - a resplendent testament to the building's history and ongoing dedication to the art and craft of music. And I spent a few hours with the man who became Apollo's de-facto metalsmith, who helped restore the Greek God's beloved lyre to its rightful place as an Amsterdam object of art, captivating and inspiring music lovers and cultural enthusiasts from across the globe.
Thank you, Theo Gossen and Rinus van Huisstede, for giving me another incredible story to tell about Amsterdam, a city that stole my heart from the day I met her.
