Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra , abbreviated to OPL, is the national orchestra
of Luxembourg
, and is based in Luxembourg City. The orchestra formerly performed at the Grand Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg
and the Conservatoire de Luxembourg
. Its current home is the Philharmonie Luxembourg
, a large concert hall opened in 2005 in the Kirchberg
quarter
in the northeast of the city.
The orchestra was founded in 1933 as the in-house orchestra of RTL Radio
, named the RTL Grand Symphony Orchestra ; Henri Pensis
was its founder and first music director. In 1995, RTL decided not to renew its contract with the orchestra. Subsequently, the Luxembourg government established the Henri Pensis Foundation to allow for the orchestra to continue its existence. In 1996, the orchestra acquired its current name under its new auspices.
After Pensis, subsequent music directors of the orchestra have included Carl Melles
, Louis de Froment
, and Leopold Hager
. The orchestra's fifth music director, David Shallon, enhanced the reputation of the orchestra, but suddenly died in 2000 while on tour in Japan. Bramwell Tovey
took over as music director in September 2002, and held the post until 2006. Since the 2006–2007 season, the orchestra's music director
is Emmanuel Krivine
. In May 2009, Krivine extended his contract with the orchestra through the 2014-2015 season.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, and is based in Luxembourg City. The orchestra formerly performed at the Grand Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg
Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg
The Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, inaugurated in 1964 as the Théâtre Municipal de la Ville de Luxembourg, underwent renovation work in 2002–2003 resulting in substantial improvements to the stage technology, acoustics and lighting facilities...
and the Conservatoire de Luxembourg
Conservatoire de Luxembourg
The Conservatoire de Luxembourg is a conservatoire in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The conservatoire was founded in 1906, after a private donation made possible its establishment, which had been mandated under a Grand Ducal decree issued in 1904...
. Its current home is the Philharmonie Luxembourg
Philharmonie Luxembourg
The Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte Concert Hall is a concert hall located on the Kirchberg plateau in the City of Luxembourg. Opened in 2005, it now plays host to 400 performances each year and is one of the main concert halls in Europe.-Origins:...
, a large concert hall opened in 2005 in the Kirchberg
Kirchberg, Luxembourg
Kirchberg or the Kirchberg is a quarter in north-eastern Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It consists of a plateau situated to the north-east of the city centre, Ville Haute....
quarter
Quarters of Luxembourg City
The Quarters of Luxembourg City are the smallest administrative division for local government in Luxembourg City, the capital and largest city in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg....
in the northeast of the city.
The orchestra was founded in 1933 as the in-house orchestra of RTL Radio
RTL RADIO
In 1992 Radio Luxemburg, the German version of Radio Luxembourg, changed its format and profile to become RTL Radio. ....
, named the RTL Grand Symphony Orchestra ; Henri Pensis
Henri Pensis
Henri Pensis , was a Luxembourgish conductor, composer and violinist.Pensis was born on in the Pfaffenthal quarter of Luxembourg City. In 1933, he founded and became the first conductor of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra...
was its founder and first music director. In 1995, RTL decided not to renew its contract with the orchestra. Subsequently, the Luxembourg government established the Henri Pensis Foundation to allow for the orchestra to continue its existence. In 1996, the orchestra acquired its current name under its new auspices.
After Pensis, subsequent music directors of the orchestra have included Carl Melles
Carl Melles
Carl Melles was an Austrian orchestral conductor of Hungarian descent....
, Louis de Froment
Louis de Froment
Louis de Froment was a French conductor.De Froment was born into a French noble family, and started his musical studies at the city conservatory. He later attended the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique of Paris and was a pupil of Louis Fourestier, Eugène Bigot and André Cluytens...
, and Leopold Hager
Leopold Hager
Leopold Hager is an Austrian conductor , known for his interpretations of works from the First Viennese School ....
. The orchestra's fifth music director, David Shallon, enhanced the reputation of the orchestra, but suddenly died in 2000 while on tour in Japan. Bramwell Tovey
Bramwell Tovey
Bramwell Tovey, OM is an English-born Grammy Award winning conductor and composer. His musical roots are in The Salvation Army. He was educated at Ilford County High School, the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. His formal music education was as a pianist and composer...
took over as music director in September 2002, and held the post until 2006. Since the 2006–2007 season, the orchestra's music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
is Emmanuel Krivine
Emmanuel Krivine
Emmanuel Krivine is a French conductor, the son of a Polish mother and a Russian father. He studied the violin as a youth and was a prize-winner at the Paris Conservatoire. He later studied at the Queen Elisabeth School in Brussels....
. In May 2009, Krivine extended his contract with the orchestra through the 2014-2015 season.
Music directors
- Henri PensisHenri PensisHenri Pensis , was a Luxembourgish conductor, composer and violinist.Pensis was born on in the Pfaffenthal quarter of Luxembourg City. In 1933, he founded and became the first conductor of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra...
- Carl MellesCarl MellesCarl Melles was an Austrian orchestral conductor of Hungarian descent....
- Louis de FromentLouis de FromentLouis de Froment was a French conductor.De Froment was born into a French noble family, and started his musical studies at the city conservatory. He later attended the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique of Paris and was a pupil of Louis Fourestier, Eugène Bigot and André Cluytens...
- Leopold HagerLeopold HagerLeopold Hager is an Austrian conductor , known for his interpretations of works from the First Viennese School ....
(1981 - 1996) - David Shallon (1997 - 2000)
- Bramwell ToveyBramwell ToveyBramwell Tovey, OM is an English-born Grammy Award winning conductor and composer. His musical roots are in The Salvation Army. He was educated at Ilford County High School, the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. His formal music education was as a pianist and composer...
(2002 - 2006) - Emmanuel KrivineEmmanuel KrivineEmmanuel Krivine is a French conductor, the son of a Polish mother and a Russian father. He studied the violin as a youth and was a prize-winner at the Paris Conservatoire. He later studied at the Queen Elisabeth School in Brussels....
(2006 - present)