

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
8’ str (6.6.4.4.2)
“Fractal Variations is a string orchestra version of my work for string quartet, Spring Rain. Spring Rain was written at the request of six string quartets, who, around 2000, had come up with a plan to organize their own chamber music series in a number of country estates in the Netherlands without the help of a state subsidy.
Despite the programmatic title, the work is composed as an abstract piece. The composer leaves the listener to harmonize the title with the music in whichever way they choose. ….”
– Theo Verbey
Mahlers' Rückert-Lieder
11 Jun 2021
TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Markus Stenz, Sophie Harmsen
Berg & Verbey, Mahler, Schumann
The Radio Philharmonic orchestra will be combining Berg with Mahler, a logical choice considering that Theo Verbey based his instrumentation of Berg’s Sonata op. 1 on the exceptionally varied orchestral sound of Mahler and Berg. According to Theo, “during the opening of this instrumentation, even the boundary between chamber and orchestral music is erased: the piece begins as a string quartet.”
Markus Stenz, who will conduct this programme, also conducted the world premieres of Theo’s Clarinet Concerto and the Trombone Concerto.
CONCERTGEBOUWORKEST PLAYS PROKOFIEV’S SYMPHONY NO. 5
31 Mar 2021
At Home
Concertgebouworkest, Han-Na Chang, Behzod Abduraimov
Verbey, Bartok, Prokofiev
Work From Home In The Pandemic
27 Mar 2021
At Home, Delft
Thuisorkest, Personal Computer, Keyboard
Work from Home, Life Balance, Pandemic Times
Latest News
22 Feb 2021
Posthumous new work by Theo Verbey
Theo Verbey had a close relationship with Amsterdam Sinfonietta. A large number of works was written for them and premiered by them, including Pavane oubliée (1995), Schaduw (2002) and Fractal Variations(2006).
Thanks to a recent blog post by Amsterdam Sinfonietta, we also came across a work that we had not yet published: the arrangement for string orchestra of the piano piece Une Larme by Modest Mussorgsky. According to cellist Maarten Mostert 'Theo has arranged this splendid piano piece very beautifully. Under Lev's direction we often played it as an encore, but after that it also featured on the programme every few years’.
12 Jan 2021
Introducing the Theo Verbey Foundation
Tuesday 12 January 2021 15:00h CET marks the launch of the newly established Theo Verbey Foundation. In this film, a few board members and a colleague of Theo Verbey will talk about the Foundation’s aims and the significance of Verbey’s work. Cellist Martín Alvarez, a Master’s student at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, will perform two movements from Verbey’s Five Pieces for Violoncello Solo (2006).
8 Jan 2021
Theo Verbey Foundation receives grant to record Sestetto
Good news! The Buma/Stemra Investeringsfonds Muziek has awarded a grant to the Theo Verbey Foundation to record Sestetto, (1998), with the Matangi Quartet, joined for this occasion by Felicia van den End (flute) and Sabien Canton (harp). A recently discovered list, found amongst Verbey's papers, indicates he'd earmarked the Matangi Quartet to perform Sestetto on an unrealized chamber music CD. The Theo Verbey Foundation is delighted these six outstanding Dutch musicians have agreed to record this breathtaking work.
Due to Covid-19, no further events have been planned.
We hope to see Theo’s work in concert again soon.