National Orchestra of Belgium
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The National Orchestra of Belgium (French: Orchestre National de Belgique; Flemish: Nationaal Orkest van België) is one of two major orchestras in Belgium, along with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège.
The Brussels Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1931 by Désiré Defauw, was reorganized in 1936 to form the National Orchestra of Belgium. It is based in the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels and currently performs 70 concerts each season (September to July) in Belgium and abroad. The orchestra is subsidized by the Belgian government and employs 93 musicians. It specializes in the music of the 19th and 20th century as well as film scores.
Prior to the appointment of André Cluytens as its permanent conductor in 1958, the orchestra worked with conductors including Karl Böhm, Désiré Defauw, Erich Kleiber, and Pierre Monteux.
[edit] Music directors
- Mikko Franck (2002–)
- Yuri Simonov (1994–2002)
- Ronald Zollman (1989–1993)
- Mendi Rodan (1983–1989)
- Georges Octors (1975–1989)
- André Vandernoot (1974–1975)
- Michael Gielen (1969–1971)
- André Cluytens (1958–1967)
Walter Weller assumes the conductorship in September 2007.
