The French National Radio Orchestra, also known as Orchestre National de France, is a classical music ensemble based in Paris, France. It was founded in 1934 by the French Radio Broadcasting Corporation, which later became Radio France. The orchestra was established to provide high-quality classical music performances to the French public and to promote French music internationally. The orchestra's first conductor was Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht, who led the ensemble until 1944. Inghelbrecht was succeeded by Manuel Rosenthal, who served as the orchestra's principal conductor from 1944 to 1957. During Rosenthal's tenure, the orchestra gained international recognition for its performances of French music, particularly the works of Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. In 1957, the French National Radio Orchestra appointed Charles Munch as its principal conductor. Munch was a renowned conductor who had previously led the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre de Paris. Under Munch's leadership, the orchestra continued to excel in French repertoire and also expanded its repertoire to include works by German and Austrian composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, and Wagner. Munch remained with the orchestra until his death in 1968. After Munch's death, the French National Radio Orchestra went through a period of transition, with several conductors serving short tenures. In 1975, Lorin Maazel was appointed as the orchestra's principal conductor. Maazel was a highly respected conductor who had previously led the Cleveland Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera. During Maazel's tenure, the orchestra continued to perform a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music and works by non-French composers. Maazel remained with the orchestra until 1987. In 1989, the French National Radio Orchestra appointed its first female principal conductor, Myung-Whun Chung. Chung was a South Korean conductor who had previously served as the assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Under Chung's leadership, the orchestra continued to perform a diverse range of repertoire and also toured extensively, performing in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Chung remained with the orchestra until 2000. Since Chung's departure, the French National Radio Orchestra has been led by several prominent conductors, including Kurt Masur, Daniele Gatti, and Emmanuel Krivine. The orchestra has continued to perform a wide range of repertoire and has collaborated with many renowned soloists and composers. One of the highlights of the French National Radio Orchestra's history was its performance at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. The orchestra performed a program of French music, including works by Ravel, Debussy, and Gabriel Fauré, to an audience of over 20,000 people. The performance was broadcast live on French radio and was heard by millions of listeners around the world. Another notable performance by the French National Radio Orchestra was its 1958 concert at the Edinburgh International Festival. The orchestra performed a program of French music, including Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloé" and Debussy's "La Mer," to critical acclaim. The performance helped to establish the orchestra's reputation as one of the world's leading ensembles. Over the years, the French National Radio Orchestra has received numerous awards and accolades for its performances and recordings.

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