The Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1848 in France. The ensemble is composed of 120 musicians who are members of the French Republican Guard, which is responsible for providing security to the President of the French Republic and other high-ranking officials. The ensemble is known for its high-quality performances of classical music, and it has become one of the most respected orchestras in France. The founding of the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine can be traced back to the establishment of the French Second Republic in 1848. At that time, the Republican Guard was created to provide security to the new government, and it was decided that the guard should also have a musical ensemble. The first conductor of the orchestra was Adolphe Sax, who was also the inventor of the saxophone. Sax was responsible for selecting the musicians and organizing the ensemble's first performances. Over the years, the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine has had many notable members, including the composer Maurice Ravel, who played the piano in the orchestra for a short time in the early 1900s. Other notable members have included the conductor Pierre Dervaux and the composer and conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus. The Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine has performed at many prestigious venues throughout France and around the world. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was at the opening ceremony of the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, where it played for an audience of over 50,000 people. The orchestra has also performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. In addition to its performances, the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine has also received many awards and honors over the years. In 2009, the ensemble was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for its recording of the music of Maurice Ravel. The orchestra has also been awarded the Médaille de la Ville de Paris and the Médaille de la Défense Nationale for its contributions to French culture. One of the highlights of the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine's recent performances was its participation in the 2017 Bastille Day celebrations in Paris. The orchestra played a concert in front of the Eiffel Tower, which was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and other dignitaries. The concert included a performance of the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," as well as other patriotic and classical pieces. The Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine continues to be an important part of French cultural life, and its performances are eagerly anticipated by music lovers around the world. With its long history and tradition of excellence, the ensemble is sure to continue to inspire and delight audiences for many years to come.

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