Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

The Orchestre Symphonique de Radio-Tele-Luxembourg, also known as the Luxembourg Radio Symphony Orchestra, is a classical music ensemble based in Luxembourg. The orchestra was founded in 1933 by Radio Luxembourg, which was one of the first commercial radio stations in Europe. The orchestra was initially formed to provide live music for the radio station's programs, but it soon became a prominent ensemble in its own right. The orchestra's first conductor was Louis de Froment, who led the ensemble until 1950. During this time, the orchestra performed a wide range of classical repertoire, including works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. In 1950, the orchestra appointed Louis de Froment's son, Serge de Froment, as its new conductor. Under Serge de Froment's leadership, the orchestra continued to expand its repertoire and gained international recognition. One of the highlights of the orchestra's early years was its performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 1951. This performance was broadcast live on Radio Luxembourg and was heard by millions of listeners across Europe. The orchestra also performed regularly at the prestigious Festival de Cannes, where it was praised for its virtuosity and musicality. In the 1960s, the orchestra began to collaborate with some of the world's leading conductors and soloists. In 1963, the orchestra performed with the legendary pianist Arthur Rubinstein, and in 1965, it collaborated with the renowned conductor Leonard Bernstein. These collaborations helped to raise the orchestra's profile and cemented its reputation as one of Europe's leading ensembles. In the 1970s, the orchestra continued to expand its repertoire and began to focus on contemporary music. It premiered works by composers such as Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Gyorgy Ligeti, and it also collaborated with contemporary composers such as Luciano Berio and Krzysztof Penderecki. These performances helped to establish the orchestra as a champion of new music and a leading ensemble in the contemporary classical music scene. In the 1980s, the orchestra underwent a period of transition. Serge de Froment retired as conductor in 1982, and he was succeeded by Leopold Hager. Under Hager's leadership, the orchestra continued to perform a wide range of repertoire, but it also began to focus more on the music of its native Luxembourg. The orchestra premiered works by Luxembourgish composers such as Marcel Wengler and Laurent Menager, and it also collaborated with Luxembourgish soloists such as pianist Francesco Tristano. In the 1990s, the orchestra continued to evolve under the leadership of conductor Bramwell Tovey. Tovey expanded the orchestra's outreach programs and established a youth orchestra, which helped to cultivate the next generation of classical musicians in Luxembourg. The orchestra also continued to collaborate with leading soloists and conductors, including pianist Martha Argerich and conductor Sir Simon Rattle. In recent years, the orchestra has continued to thrive under the leadership of conductor Gustavo Gimeno. Gimeno has expanded the orchestra's repertoire to include more contemporary music and has also focused on promoting the music of female composers. The orchestra has premiered works by composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina and Unsuk Chin, and it has also collaborated with female soloists such as violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and pianist Yuja Wang.

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