The last few months Pointer interviewed over 50 musicians, management and staff from seven of the orchestras Jaap van Zweden conducted at home and abroad during the past 25 years. Van Zweden’s harsh, sometimes intimidating manners come up time and time again. Individual musicians from home and abroad say they have been insulted and disparaged in the presence of colleagues. Working with the Dutchman has had a lasting impact on a number of them.

Tranquillizers or calling in sick

Musicians relate calling in sick, among other things, when Van Zweden conducts their orchestra. Others turn to tranquilizers such as beta-blockers beta-blockers or other tranquillizers. "He shouts at you as if you were a four-year-old", says one source from an American orchestra. This musician only wanted to tell his story provided he could stay anonymous, a condition the vast majority of people Pointer talked to set. "And when he is having a go, you’re on your own", according to another source from Hong Kong. "It’s not just the orchestra, everyone fears him. All the way up to the management."

Pointer talked to six (former) orchestra managers about working with Jaap van Zweden. Most of them only wanted to do so provided they remained anonymous. They mention the musical and commercial successes the orchestras had under the leadership of Jaap van Zweden. By their own account, most of them were informally aware of concerns as to the way conductor Jaap van Zweden interacted with musicians. However, official complaints or reports concerning the director’s behaviour rarely if ever reached the top.

'Boundaries have been crossed'

Professor of Integrity Rob van Eijbergen and professor and researcher Marjan Olfers read 20 anonymized testimonies and concluded separately that inappropriate behaviour occurred at orchestras led by Jaap van Zweden. Olfers: "People who experienced and endured it, had their boundaries crossed. Sometimes with severe consequences for the people involved." The accounts show her a 'pattern of fear'. Rob van Eijbergen: "Inappropriate behaviour, which this is, often pertains to power."

Jaap van Zweden has responded to say he hasn't been able to assess the accuracy of the mostly anonymous statements. He is shocked nonetheless by the image they evoke. In his response he says: "The reality is that, as a conductor, I continually call people out on what could be better. Sometimes I will use an intense tone and if that occurs in the presence of 120 other people, that won’t always feel nice. I know I can be demanding. (…) However, that can never be an excuse for a working environment that leads to people feeling constrained or using tranquillizers." He also says he is open for criticism: "These reports get to me, because a conductor should always have a good feel for his orchestra. Only then can there be perfect harmony. I am of course open to criticism. If my way of working can be improved, I would like to know." His full response can be seen in the Pointer broadcast.

Jaap van Zweden is widely known as the most famous and celebrated Dutch conductor. After a stint as concertmaster of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, for the past 30 years he took to the rostrum with some 50 orchestras. In 2011, he was hailed as Conductor of the Year in the United States and in 2019, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra became the best orchestra under his leadership. Two years ago, he received the Concertgebouw Prize in the Netherlands.

Pointer has been investigating abuses in classical music for a while now. After a previous investigation into inappropriate behaviour at academies of music, the editors received several tips on the impact of working with conductor Jaap van Zweden. On the basis of these tips, Pointer started an investigation six months ago. The names of all anonymous sources are known to the editors.

Pointer, Thursday, May 22, 4 PM on KRO-NCRV on YouTube. And Sunday, May 25, 10:10 PM on NPO2.