Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
The preeminent orchestra of the French-speaking regions of Belgium, the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, also known as the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, the OPRL, or the Liège Philharmonic Orchestra, has performed throughout Belgium, the Benelux countries, and France. The orchestra has championed music by Belgian composers in addition to a diet of French, German, and contemporary music in its frequent concerts at the Salle Philharmonique de Liège.
The orchestra was founded in 1960 by conductor Fernand Quinet, who served as music director until 1964. Pierre Bartholomée served as music director for 22 years, from 1977 to 1999. The orchestra's eight conductors have included several who have gone on to international careers, among them future Cincinnati Symphony conductor Louis Langrée (2001-2006). Since 2011 the orchestra's music director has been the Austrian-born Christian Arming. Jean-Jacques Kantorow, who has also experienced success in the U.S., has served as guest conductor and led the orchestra on recordings. Programming has included the works of such contemporary composers as Philippe Boesmans, Henri Dutilleux, and Magnus Lindberg.
The OPRL's commitment to Belgian music is especially apparent in the recording studio. The group has been especially active on recordings in the 2010s. After backing French violinist Laurent Korcia on a 2011 recording of concertos by Tchaikovsky and Korngold, the group has issued recordings by Eugène Ysaÿe and Joseph Jongen for the label Musique en Wallonie. In 2014, the orchestra began a cycle of Ottorino Respighi's lesser-known orchestral works with Impressioni brasilianne and La Boutique fantasque; in 2018, BIS issued its versions of the very rarely heard Respighi works Vetrate di Chiesa, Il Tramonto, and Trittico Botticelliano. The OPRL has also recorded for the Naïve and Cyprès labels. In February of 2018, the orchestra mounted a "Festival l'enfant prodigue," examining the music of Mozart in a context of that by other compositional prodigies.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Franck: Complete Orchestral Works
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Christian Arming, Choeur de Radio France
Classical - Released by Fuga Libera on Apr 8, 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
César Franck: Hulda
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Choeur de Chambre de Namur, Gergely Madaras
Classical - Released by Bru Zane on Jun 23, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Franck: Les Béatitudes
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Hungarian National Choir, Gergely Madaras
Classical - Released by Fuga Libera on Jan 5, 2024
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Respighi : Sinfonia drammatica & Belfagor Overture
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, John Neschling
Symphonic Music - Released by BIS on Jun 3, 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dupont : Complete Symphonic Works
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Patrick Davin
Symphonic Music - Released by Fuga Libera on Mar 8, 2019
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Saint-Saëns - Chausson - Ysaÿe
Tedi Papavrami, François-Xavier Roth, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
Classical - Released by AEON on Apr 22, 2010
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Camille Saint-Saëns : Complete Works for Violin and Orchestra & Cello and Orchestra
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Christian Arming
Classical - Released by Zig-Zag Territoires on Nov 19, 2013
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Samuel Barber - Hector Berlioz - Benjamin Britten
Anne-Catherine Gillet, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Paul Daniel
Classical - Released by AEON on Oct 27, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius & Rautavaara: Violin Concertos
Tobias Feldmann, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jean-Jacques Kantorow
Classical - Released by Alpha Classics on May 25, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
César Franck : Symphonie - Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne - Hulda
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Christian Arming
Classical - Released by Fuga Libera on Oct 23, 2012
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franck: Œuvres Orchestrales
Cédric Tiberghien, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
Classical - Released by Cypres on Jun 1, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Respighi: The Birds & Ancient Dances and Airs
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, John Neschling
Classical - Released by BIS on Mar 3, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lekeu: Andromède
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Pierre Bartholomée, Choeur Symphonique de Namur
Classical - Released by Ricercar on Jan 1, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Comptines: L'Orchestre raconte…
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Maîtrise de l'Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Jean-Pierre Haeck
Children - Released by La Dolce Volta on Nov 22, 2018
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák & Martinů: Cello Concertos
Victor Julien-Laferrière, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Gergely Madaras
Classical - Released by Alpha Classics on Apr 16, 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Henri Vieuxtemps : Concertos pour violon (Intégrale)
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Patrick Davin
Classical - Released by Fuga Libera on Jan 6, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ysaÿe : Neiges d'antan
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Svetlin Roussev, Amaury Coeytaux
Concertos - Released by Musique en Wallonie on May 20, 2016
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Saint-Saëns: Symphonies
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jean-Jacques Kantorow
Classical - Released by BIS on May 21, 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ysaÿe : Harmonies du soir
Tatiana Samouil, Thibault Lavrenov, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jean-Jacques Kantorow
Classical - Released by Musique en Wallonie on May 6, 2014
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Boesmans : Fin de nuit, Violin Concerto...
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Gergely Madaras
Concertos - Released by Cypres on Sep 13, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Lekeu: Oeuvres orchestrales I
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Pierre Batholomée
Classical - Released by Ricercar on Jan 1, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo