Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire
Encyclopedia
The Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire (ONPL) is a French symphony orchestra based in Angers
and Nantes
, France
. The orchestra receives support from the Regional Council of the Pays de la Loire.
The precursor ensembles to the future ONPL were the orchestra of the Opéra de Nantes and the orchestra of the Société des Concerts Populaires d'Angers. In 1971 these two orchestras united into a single organisation, the 114-member Orchestre Philharmonique des Pays de la Loire (OPPL), recruited by competition throughout France. It gave its first concert under that name in September 1971, with Pierre Dervaux, the OPPL's first music director, conducting. Dervaux served as music director until 1976. Although based in Angers and Nantes the orchestra gave concerts in all the main towns of the Loire region. In 1979 the orchestra toured to Roumania, Bulgaria and Poland, and made its first visit to London in 1980.
Subsequent music directors were Marc Soustrot (1976-1994), Hubert Soudant
(1994-2004), and Isaac Karabtchevsky
(2004-2010). In April 2009, the ONPL announced the appointment of John Axelrod
as its next music director, effective September 2010, with an initial contract of 3 years.
Early recordings by the orchestra included orchestral works by Vincent d'Indy (Grand Prix du Disque
, 1977), and music by Rabaud and Pierné (all EMI). Later CDs included Guillou's Concerto Grosso and Concerto 2000, Ravel's Boléro and other works, and Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony.
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
and Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The orchestra receives support from the Regional Council of the Pays de la Loire.
The precursor ensembles to the future ONPL were the orchestra of the Opéra de Nantes and the orchestra of the Société des Concerts Populaires d'Angers. In 1971 these two orchestras united into a single organisation, the 114-member Orchestre Philharmonique des Pays de la Loire (OPPL), recruited by competition throughout France. It gave its first concert under that name in September 1971, with Pierre Dervaux, the OPPL's first music director, conducting. Dervaux served as music director until 1976. Although based in Angers and Nantes the orchestra gave concerts in all the main towns of the Loire region. In 1979 the orchestra toured to Roumania, Bulgaria and Poland, and made its first visit to London in 1980.
Subsequent music directors were Marc Soustrot (1976-1994), Hubert Soudant
Hubert Soudant
Hubert Soudant is a Dutch conductor. He played the French horn as a youth. He has won prizes in several conducting competitions, including the Besançon Young Conductor Competition and the Karajan International Conducting Competition.Soudant has held music directorships with the Utrecht Symphony...
(1994-2004), and Isaac Karabtchevsky
Isaac Karabtchevsky
Isaac Karabtchevsky in São Paulo) is a brazilian conductor of russian jew ancestry. He studied music and conducting in Germany, where his teachers included Wolfgang Fortner, Pierre Boulez and Carl Ueter....
(2004-2010). In April 2009, the ONPL announced the appointment of John Axelrod
John Axelrod
John Neal Axelrod is an American conductor. Axelrod is currently Conductor and Music Director of l'Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, based in Nantes and Angers, France; and, from the 2011/12 season the Principal Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica "Giuseppe Verdi" also known as "laVerdi"...
as its next music director, effective September 2010, with an initial contract of 3 years.
Early recordings by the orchestra included orchestral works by Vincent d'Indy (Grand Prix du Disque
Grand Prix du Disque
The Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
, 1977), and music by Rabaud and Pierné (all EMI). Later CDs included Guillou's Concerto Grosso and Concerto 2000, Ravel's Boléro and other works, and Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony.
Music directors
- Pierre DervauxPierre DervauxPierre Dervaux was a French operatic conductor, composer, and pedagogue. At the Conservatoire de Paris, he studied counterpoint and harmony with Marcel Samuel-Rousseau and Jean and Noël Gallon, as well as piano with Isidor Philipp, Armand Ferté, and Yves Nat...
(1971-1976) - Marc Soustrot (1976-1994)
- Hubert SoudantHubert SoudantHubert Soudant is a Dutch conductor. He played the French horn as a youth. He has won prizes in several conducting competitions, including the Besançon Young Conductor Competition and the Karajan International Conducting Competition.Soudant has held music directorships with the Utrecht Symphony...
(1994-2004) - Isaac KarabtchevskyIsaac KarabtchevskyIsaac Karabtchevsky in São Paulo) is a brazilian conductor of russian jew ancestry. He studied music and conducting in Germany, where his teachers included Wolfgang Fortner, Pierre Boulez and Carl Ueter....
(2004-2010) - John AxelrodJohn AxelrodJohn Neal Axelrod is an American conductor. Axelrod is currently Conductor and Music Director of l'Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, based in Nantes and Angers, France; and, from the 2011/12 season the Principal Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica "Giuseppe Verdi" also known as "laVerdi"...
(2010-present)