

Contemporary Classical Music Composer
Theo Verbey (5 July 1959-13 October 2019) was a Dutch composer of contemporary classical music. His style – which has been described as energetic and appealing – is known for its elegance, rhythmically transparent approach and rich instrumentation. Theo’s orchestral, chamber and vocal works are favorites with listeners and musicians and never fail to touch the hearts of those who hear them. His commitment to teaching has also paved the way for new musicians, creating a legacy that will last for generations to come.

Commissioned by Performing Arts Fund NL
12' oboe-solo 2h 4vln 2vla 2vc cb
1st Movement: (2 minutes) On a late summer evening in East Amsterdam, a Brazilian tango orchestra rehearses on the third floor of an apartment on 1st Oosterparkstraat. Upstairs, a US jazz bassist warms up in the attic, while on the second floor, an oboist from India practices long notes. Separated by floors and ceilings, their sounds create a unique multicultural blend. Suddenly, the music halts as a police car’s horns blare outside—everyone who lives in this building is an undocumented immigrant. When the anticipated raid doesn't happen, the music resumes, growing bolder. But the police car returns, faster this time. The orchestra and bassist decide to call it a day. 2nd Movement: (4 minutes) Meanwhile, mice scurry through the shops on the ground floor, searching for food. The oboist, now distracted, practices snippets of Mozart he almost-but-not-quite remembers. The Italian opera singer next door yawns, sighs, then falls back to sleep. The oboist, intrigued, tries to imitate the singer, and the cycle repeats.
Amsterdam compositions brought to life by musicians of the Concertgebouw Orchestra
16 Sep 2025
Concertgebouw Recital Hall, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Aurel Dawidiuk, Mariya Semotyuk-Schlaffke, Hein Wiedijk, Mirelys Morgan, Sjaan Oomen, Yoko Kanamaru, Chris van Balen, Ramon van Engelenhoven, Mark Braafhart
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (arr. Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer), Dirk Schäfer, Henriëtte Bosmans, Alphons Diepenbrock, Marius Flothuis, Theo Verbey, Theo Loevendie
Concertgebouw Orchestra musicians perform chamber music in the Recital Hall focusing on Amsterdam’s musical past, from Sweelinck to Bosmans and Diepenbrock, including Theo Verbey’s Chaconne for string trio. From the early Baroque music of the ‘Orpheus of Amsterdam’, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, to the contemporary idiom of Theo Loevendie, who for many years has lived just behind the Concertgebouw.
Musicians of the Concertgebouw Orchestra perform their own programmes in the Recital Hall as part of the Close-up chamber music series. Each…
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17 Feb 2025
Landmark re-release of Eleonore Pameijer’s Telemann project!
This leading Dutch flutist asked Dutch composers to write musical commentaries based on Telemann's 12 fantasies. The result is a CD with works of Telemann, interspersed with contemporary compositions by Theo Verbey, Otto Ketting, Theo Loevendie, Rob Zuidam, Ron Ford, and Jeff Hamburg among others. No wonder this worthwhile digital CD is a favorite with listeners!
17 Jan 2024
Review of Theo Verbey – Five Pieces for Violoncello
There is no question that Verbey knew very well how to write for cello...
8 Sep 2023
Verbey’s ‘Five Pieces for Violoncello Solo’ a round-two selection for the Dutch National Cello Copetition
The Dutch National Cello Competition is one of the most exciting part of Amsterdam's famous Cello Biennale. In 2006, founder Maarten Mostert commissioned Theo Verbey to write his 'Five Pieces for Violoncello Solo' for the first edition of the competition, now being held for the ninth time. As Verbey said, 'The subjects of the five movements are partly musical, and partly technical. In terms of content, these pieces are somewhere between etudes and concert pieces.'