Léon Orthel was born in Roosendaal, North Brabant, in 1905. In 1921 he began studying music with Wagenaar, and continued at the Berlin Musikhochschule. He eventually became professor of piano and composition at The Hague Royal Conservatory and the Amsterdam Conservatory.
From the 1930s he strove for an independent voice, dissociating himself from the then current polytonal and atonal techniques.
His music is dramatic and brilliant, with Rachmaninoff-like expressiveness.
Some of his best things:
Symphony no. 1, opus 13, 1933
Symphony no. 2, opus 18, 1940
Symphony no. 3, opus 24, 1943
Symphony no. 4, opus 32, 1949
Symphony no. 5, opus 43, 1960
Symphony no. 6, opus 45, 1961
String quartet, opus 50, 1964
Scherzo for piano and orchestra, opus 10, 1929
Cello concerto no. 1, opus 11, 1929
Concertino for piano and orchestra, opus 12, 1930
Scherzo no. 1, opus 37, 1955
Scherzo no. 2, opus 38, 1957
Trumpet concerto, opus 68, 1974
Evocations, opus 83, 1977
Muziek, opus 89, for double bass and orchestra, 1981
Cello concerto no. 2, opus 95, 1984
From the 1930s he strove for an independent voice, dissociating himself from the then current polytonal and atonal techniques.
His music is dramatic and brilliant, with Rachmaninoff-like expressiveness.
Some of his best things:
Symphony no. 1, opus 13, 1933
Symphony no. 2, opus 18, 1940
Symphony no. 3, opus 24, 1943
Symphony no. 4, opus 32, 1949
Symphony no. 5, opus 43, 1960
Symphony no. 6, opus 45, 1961
String quartet, opus 50, 1964
Scherzo for piano and orchestra, opus 10, 1929
Cello concerto no. 1, opus 11, 1929
Concertino for piano and orchestra, opus 12, 1930
Scherzo no. 1, opus 37, 1955
Scherzo no. 2, opus 38, 1957
Trumpet concerto, opus 68, 1974
Evocations, opus 83, 1977
Muziek, opus 89, for double bass and orchestra, 1981
Cello concerto no. 2, opus 95, 1984