The Metropole Orkest (or The Metropole Orchestra) (1945 - Present), is a jazz and pop orchestra based in Hilversum, The Netherlands, and is the largest full-time ensemble of its kind in the world. A hybrid orchestra, it is a combination of jazz big band and symphony orchestra. Comprising 52 musicians, it is versatile across many musical forms, and is equipped with a "double rhythm section“ - one for pop and rock, and one for jazz based music. It is currently conducted by Jules Buckley The Metropole Orkest was founded at the request of the Dutch government by the composer and conductor Dolf van der Linden, who led the orchestra from 1945 to 1980. The first ever broadcast of the Metropole Orkest on Dutch radio took place on November 25th 1945. Renowned for its wide-ranging abilities, the orchestra performs everything from chansons to World-music, film-scores, Rock- or Pop-tunes as well as high-octane jazz . The orchestra is a regular feature at the North Sea Jazz festival and the yearly Holland Festival along with countless TV and radio programs broadcast to millions. The ever-growing Dutch film and television industry relies heavily on the Metropole Orkest for its film scores. Since 1945 the Metropole has been under the baton of many chief conductors, including four-time Grammy Award winner Vince Mendoza, Dolf van der Linden, Rogier van Otterloo and Dick Bakker and can be seen frequenting the concert stage, in festivals and on recordings in the Netherlands as well as internationally. Artists they have worked with include: Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Brian Eno, Pat Metheny, Stan Getz, Basement Jaxx, Within Temptation, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Barry Hay (singer with Golden Earring), Elvis Costello, Moke, Ruth Jacott and Paul de Leeuw. The government was looking to pull their funding from the famous orchestra and Dutch cultural icon. At the last minute, in December 2012, politicians secured funding for the orchestra until 2017.[5] Orchestral Composition - 1st Violin - Bass - Oboe - 2nd Violin - Harp - Horn - Viola - Clarinet - Saxophone - Cello - Piano - Trumpet - Double Bass - Synthesizer - Trombone - Flute - Drums - Percussion Official website: http://en.metropoleorkest.nl Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.