Robin de Raaff

Robin de Raaff (pronounced [ˈrobin də ˈra:f]; born in 1968) is a Dutch composer and bassist. De Raaff has written six Symphonies, eleven Concertos for solo instruments and orchestra, an Oratorio entitled Atlantis, two main stage Operas. Currently De Raaff is composing a Cantata for mixed Choir and Orchestra on a poem entitled L'Azur by Stéphane Mallarmé commissioned by the Lucerne Festival, through the Foundation Pierre Boulez, and co-commissioned by the NTR-Zaterdagmatinee in the Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam.

His most recent opera Waiting for Miss Monroe is about the death of Marilyn Monroe whose role was sung by American soprano Laura Aikin. His first opera entitled RAAFF is about the complex relationship between the older Anton Raaff and the young "M." (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) in their struggle to create the world premiere of Idomeneo. Both operas were commissioned by the Dutch National Opera co-produced by the Holland Festival.

Alongside the creation of these large scale works De Raaff composed a chamber opera, chamber music, vocal music, a series of solo works entitled Contradictie (I to VII) for several musical instruments, a set of Encore's (I-III) for different instruments, songs in different styles, music for a dramatized documentary, and a short ballet for a choreographed/filmed dance project. This dance project was entitled Counter Phrases by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and Thierry De Mey for which the music was created by 10 prominent contemporary composers, composing their works after the choreography was filmed. Amongst others Jonathan Harvey, Steve Reich, Magnus Lindberg, Toshio Hosokawa, Luca Francesconi, Thierry de Mey, Fausto Romitelli, and George Aperghis.

De Raaff belongs to the generation of Dutch composers that emerged in the 1990s with an exposure that soon gained International interest leading to regular national and international performances and commissions. In 2001 De Raaff became teacher of Musical composition and Instrumentation. Since the start of academic year 2024–2025 De Raaff also teaches Screen Scoring Instrumentation as part of the new Master Screen Scoring of Codarts, University for the Arts.