LUXEMBOURG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Since its founding in 1933, the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra has played a vital role in the musical life of the Grand Duchy. Originally a privately run radio orchestra, the entire organisation was taken over by the State in 1996 within the framework of the newly formed Henri Pensis Foundation. The Luxembourg Philharmonic is Resident Orchestra at the Philharmonie Luxembourg, where it organizes two evening series, kids and family concerts as well as some special projects.
The international reputation of the orchestra was consolidated through numerous concerts, recordings, radio and television productions during the tenures of its three long-time principal conductors: Henri Pensis, Louis de Froment, and Leopold Hager. From 1997 to 2000 the late David Shallon was musical director of the orchestra. The British conductor Bramwell Tovey served at the same post from September 2002 until June 2006. Emmanuel Krivine became Music Director in September 2006.
Extensive tours have taken the orchestra through Germany and Austria, to Switzerland, France, Italy, the
Netherlands and Great Britain. It played in the most renowned concert halls such as the Vienna Musikverein, the Philharmonie in Berlin, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. In Berlin, the Morgenpost wrote: "Luxembourg at the Conquest of the Musical World" and the Durch ’Trouw’ stated: "This Orchestra is a Jewel". In 2003 the orchestra made its first tour to Asia (China and Korea). In 2004 it was touring North America (East Coast) with the renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie as soloist. In 2006/7 the Orchestra’s 100 musicians were touring Spain, France and Switzerland, while during the season 2007/08 they go to Austria, Hungary and Slovenia as well as to Italy.
The Luxembourg Philharmonic releases two or three CDs per season, mostly in collaboration with the French record label Timpani (www.timpani-records.com). World première recordings and new discoveries have attracted attention not only that of specialists. Complete editions of orchestral works by Cras and Ohana have already been completed or, as for Xenakis, are in progress. First-ever recordings of Bloch, Lili Boulanger, Honegger, Magnard, Martinu, Pierné, Poulenc, Ropartz (his opera Le Pays) or Roussel have been distinguished with numerous international prizes (Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros, Gramophone Award, Prix Cécilia, Deutscher Schallplattenpreis). In January 2002 the orchestra received two Cannes Classical Awards of the MIDEM for its CD with works by the French composer Gabriel Pierné: Record of the Year and Best Recording Orchestral Music 20th Century. In 2003 Bramwell Tovey recorded the opera Polyphème by French composer Jean Cras (Timpani 3C3078). This recording was awarded the Orphée d’Or by the Académie du Disque Lyrique in Paris. In 2004, Timpani released a CD with Choral works by Albert Roussel and in March 2005 a disc with orchestral works by Ivo Malec which won the Diapason d’Or de l’année 2005. In 2005/6 CD’s works by Auric and Pierné were released, as well as Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis conducted by Michael Gielen.
A CD with orchestral works by French composer Vincent d’Indy, conducted by Emmanuel Krivine, has wone numerous awards from prestigious international music magazines.
The OPL’s vast recording output has been awarded more than 90 international prizes, including "Best Record of the Year" at the MIDEM Classical Awards for Cydalise et le Chèvre-Pied by Gabriel Pierné, several Charles Cros awards and an "Orphée d’Or de l’Académie du disque Lyrique" in Paris for the premiere recording of the opera Polyphème by Jean Cras.
