Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Symphony

 

Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique (ORR) is a classical music ensemble that specializes in performing music from the Romantic and early Classical periods on period instruments. The ensemble was founded in 1989 by the British conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner, who remains its artistic director to this day. Gardiner had previously founded the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists, both of which were renowned for their historically informed performances of early music. With ORR, Gardiner sought to apply the same principles of authenticity and scholarship to the music of the Romantic era. The ensemble's name reflects its dual focus on the revolutionary and the romantic aspects of the music it performs. The "revolutionary" element refers to the fact that ORR uses period instruments and historically informed performance practices, which were a departure from the more traditional approach to classical music that was prevalent at the time of the ensemble's founding. The "romantic" element refers to the emotional intensity and expressive power of the music itself. ORR's core membership consists of around 50 musicians, many of whom are also members of the English Baroque Soloists. The ensemble is known for its tight-knit and collaborative approach to music-making, with each member contributing their own expertise and insights to the interpretation of the repertoire. One of ORR's most notable early performances was a series of concerts at the 1992 Salzburg Festival, which marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Schubert. ORR performed Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C major, also known as the "Great," using period instruments and historical performance practices. The performance was widely praised for its clarity, precision, and emotional depth, and helped to establish ORR as a leading interpreter of Romantic music. ORR has also collaborated with a number of other prominent musicians and ensembles over the years. In 1994, the ensemble joined forces with the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists to perform Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The performance was hailed as a triumph of historically informed performance, and was later released as a critically acclaimed recording. Another notable collaboration was ORR's partnership with the pianist Maria João Pires for a series of concerts and recordings of the music of Beethoven. Pires, who is known for her sensitive and nuanced interpretations of Beethoven's piano music, worked closely with ORR to create performances that were both historically informed and deeply expressive. In addition to its live performances, ORR has also released a number of acclaimed recordings over the years. These include recordings of the music of Schubert, Beethoven, Berlioz, and Brahms, among others. Many of these recordings have won awards and critical acclaim for their innovative and insightful interpretations of the repertoire. One of ORR's most recent projects is a series of concerts and recordings of the music of Hector Berlioz, which coincided with the composer's bicentenary in 2019. ORR performed Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and other works using period instruments and historical performance practices, and the performances were widely praised for their energy, passion, and attention to detail.

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