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Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg (= OPS; English: Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra) was founded in 1855, and is one of France's oldest orchestras. Between 1871 and 1918, and 1940 and 1944, the orchestra had been a German one, resulting from conflicts between France and Germany over the Alsace region. In 1994, the orchestra acquired the official title of Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg - orchestre national. Composers-in-residence have included the French composers Jean-Louis Agobet and Philippe Manoury, the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and the American composer John Corigliano. OPS is one of the two permanent orchestras of the Opéra national du Rhin (the other being the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse). The orchestra's current principal venue is the Palais de la musique et des congrès 'Pierre Pflimlin ' (PMC Pierre-Pflimlin, or PMC).
The OPS was first led by Belgian conductor Joseph Hasselmans is therefore firmly anchored in the present. Past Music Directors and Chief Conductors have included Hans Pfitzner, Hans Rosbaud, Ernest Bour, Jan Latham-Koenig, Charles Bruck and Alain Lombard. Marc Albrecht became artistic advisor of the orchestra in 2005, and Music Director in 2008. Albrecht and the orchestra have recorded commercially for Pentatone, including orchestral lieder of Alban Berg, and piano concertos by Robert Schumann and Antonín Dvořák. Albrecht concluded his tenure in 2011.
In January 2011, the OPS announced the appointment of Marko Letonja as its next Music Director, effective with the 2012-2013 season. Under his direction, the orchestra today has 110 musicians perpetuating its excellence and both French and Germanic traditions. Under his musical and artistic direction, the OPS - given the official title of ‘Orchestre national’ (national orchestra) in 1994 - is one of France's major ensembles, with 110 musicians perpetuating excellence and both French and Germanic traditions. In addition to its main symphonic seasons, it plays in some of the Opéra National du Rhin’s performances, participates in Festival Musica and works on original projects with other partners in Strasbourg. It also offers a busy season of chamber music encompassing fifteen or so events held at the Cité de la Musique et de la Danse, Aubette, Opéra and Espace Django. Mindful of making music widely available, the orchestra also carries out significant decentralisation actions throughout the Bas-Rhin and has a dynamic cultural policy aimed at all age groups.
The OPS also contributes to Strasbourg’s visibility in France, regularly performing at the Philharmonie de Paris, and throughout Europe in the most prestigious venues on the continent (KKL in Lucerne, Gasteig in Munich, Musikverein in Vienna, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, etc.). It recently reconnected with the major international tours that had previously taken it to Japan, Brazil and Argentina. In June 2017, it gave a series of concerts in South Korea and is set to return there in May 2020.
With a long discography, the OPS recently created a sensation by recording a version of Les Troyens by Berlioz (Erato) conducted by John Nelson and featuring a star-studded cast, which is already making headlines. This CD has achieved major public and critical acclaim and has received, amongst others, a Gramophone Classical Music Award, Diapason d’Or, Choc Classica and a Victoire de la Musique Classique award in the ‘recording’ category. It has begun a Berlioz series with the release of recordings of The Damnation of Faust (April 2019, CD release scheduled for November 2019), then Roméo and Juliette (2020). Some of the orchestra's earlier recordings include works dedicated to Alban Berg and Korngold, and a disc featuring music by Dukas, Koechlin and Ravel. In keeping with its era, the OPS - selected to play during the television programme ‘Prodiges’ on France 2 in 2017 - regularly collaborates with Arte Concert for the live broadcast and streaming of some of its performances, laying the foundations for a virtual concert hall.
Marko Letonja is scheduled to conclude his Strasbourg tenure at the close of the 2020-2021 season. In July 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Aziz Shokhakimov as its next Music Director, effective with the 2021-2022 season, with an initial contract of 3 seasons. |
