Country

:

France

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

The ORTF National Orchestra was a French classical music ensemble that was founded in 1934. The orchestra was established by the French government as part of the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF), which was the national broadcasting organization of France at the time. The ORTF National Orchestra was created to provide high-quality classical music performances for radio and television broadcasts, as well as for live concerts throughout France and abroad. The ORTF National Orchestra was led by a number of distinguished conductors throughout its history, including Manuel Rosenthal, Jean Martinon, and Sergiu Celibidache. These conductors helped to establish the orchestra's reputation for excellence and to build its repertoire of classical music masterpieces. One of the highlights of the ORTF National Orchestra's early years was its performance of Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" in 1957. This performance was conducted by Manuel Rosenthal and was broadcast live on French television. The performance was a landmark event in the history of classical music, as it was one of the first times that "The Rite of Spring" had been performed in its entirety on television. In the 1960s and 1970s, the ORTF National Orchestra continued to build its reputation as one of the premier classical music ensembles in Europe. The orchestra performed regularly at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and toured extensively throughout France and abroad. The orchestra also recorded a number of acclaimed albums during this time, including recordings of works by Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and Hector Berlioz. One of the most notable performances by the ORTF National Orchestra during this period was its 1971 performance of Olivier Messiaen's "Turangalîla-Symphonie." This performance was conducted by Seiji Ozawa and featured pianist Yvonne Loriod and ondes Martenot player Jeanne Loriod. The performance was widely praised for its virtuosity and its faithful interpretation of Messiaen's complex and challenging score. In the 1980s, the ORTF National Orchestra faced a number of challenges, including budget cuts and changes in the French broadcasting industry. Despite these challenges, the orchestra continued to perform and record at a high level. In 1989, the orchestra was renamed the French National Orchestra and became part of Radio France, the successor organization to the ORTF. In the years that followed, the French National Orchestra continued to perform and record extensively, under the leadership of conductors such as Kurt Masur, Daniele Gatti, and Myung-Whun Chung. The orchestra also collaborated with a number of prominent soloists, including pianist Martha Argerich, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. One of the highlights of the French National Orchestra's recent history was its performance at the 2015 Proms in London. The orchestra performed a program of works by Maurice Ravel, including his "Boléro" and "Daphnis et Chloé." The performance was conducted by Myung-Whun Chung and was widely praised for its energy and precision. Throughout its history, the ORTF National Orchestra and its successor, the French National Orchestra, have been recognized for their contributions to the world of classical music. The orchestra has received numerous awards and honors, including the Grand Prix du Disque and the Victoires de la Musique Classique.

More....