The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century is one of the most prominent period instrument orchestras in the world. The musicians play internationally in leading (chamber) music ensembles and meet several times a year for performances of iconic and lesser-known repertoire.

In the early 1980s, the orchestra achieved world fame by performing grand symphonic work on original instruments and in a historically informed manner. A revolution that never really stopped.

But the uniqueness of the orchestra is not only in the sound or the way of playing. Ever since it was founded by Frans Brüggen more than forty years ago, musicians have never taken a score for granted. The approach to the music and how we present it is critical, curious, investigative and progressive. Core values from The Enlightenment that all orchestra members hold in high esteem. That is why every performance is a new challenge and the iconic repertoire remains alive and kicking.

Upcoming projects

November 2025

Baroque benefactors

November 24 - Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg tickets
November 26 - Arnhem, Musis tickets
November 27 - Leeuwarden, Grote Kerk tickets
November 28 - Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw tickets
November 30 - Haarlem, PHIL.

Lucie Horsch recorder and musical direction

Music by Handel, Scarlatti, Corelli and Roman and a new work by Freya Waley-Cohen

To project

"Lucie Horsch shines on the recorder in concerts with the Orchestra of the 18th Century"

After last season's resounding success and a beautifully received album, Lucie Horsch is back with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. They present and dazzling new Baroque program with concertos, chamber music and orchestral works by Georg Friedrich Handel, Arcangelo Corelli, Domenico Scarlatti, and the Swedish composer Johann Helmich Roman in the leading roles.

Like many of their contemporaries, these composers were supported and maintained by wealthy women. Sometimes these patrons were connected to the court, sometimes they were wealthy elites from England, Germany, Sweden, or -yes- the Netherlands. But what drove these women? Why did they seek to connect with music, art and culture in this way? In this concert the focus is not only on the music and the men who composed it, but also on the women who made it all possible and in this way secured themselves a place in history.

Rehearsals for our Le nozze de Figaro started this week. This means that for the next three weeks we will be in Theater incubator De...

Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century records Beethoven piano concertos for the first time Today The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century is proud to announce pianist Olga Pashchenko...

O18c proudly presents season 2025/2026; a varied and diverse season of music from the baroque to the present, with new and old partners. A season...