On his 70th birthday — on 8 September — Dutch composer, pianist and conductor Reinbert de Leeuw was given a high Dutch honorary reward (“Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw”).

The decoration was presented to him by the Mayor of Amsterdam during a concert on the occasion of De Leeuw's birthday in the “Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ” in Amsterdam.

Reinbert de Leeuw has always been a promoter of many modern composers, as a pianist (e.g. of Satie's work), but especially as a conductor. He is also the founder of the famous “Schönberg Ensemble”, that was dedicated to the performance of compositions of the Second Viennese School, but has broadened its repertoire to many other modern composers.

[Source: www.nos.nl]