Partner Orchestra 2018

Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Mikko Franck, Music Director

Since its creation by the French national public broadcasting company in 1937, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France has established itself as an outstanding ensemble in the European symphonic landscape thanks to the eclecticism of its repertoire, the value it places on creation, the original nature of its concerts, the choice of artists and its educational and civic work.

This “Philhar spirit” finds in Mikko Franck – its musical director since 2015 – a flag bearer capable of upholding the values and ambitions of the orchestra, determined to make each concert a human and musical experience. His contract has been extended until 2022.

Mikko Franck has followed in the footsteps of Gilbert Amy, Marek Janowski and Myung-Whun Chung, but the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France’s 80-year history has also given other remarkable figures in the world of music the opportunity to direct it, from Inghelbrecht to Gustavo Dudamel, not to mention Aaron Copland, Pierre Boulez, Yuri Temirkanov and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

The Orchestre Philharmonique resides at the Radio France Auditorium. It is also regularly on tour in France and often performs in major international concert halls (Berlin’s Philharmonie, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Elbphilharmonie, Beijing’s NCPA, Suntory Hall, etc.).

Mikko Franck and the “Philhar” are pursuing an ambitious recording and broadcasting policy and videos of their performances can be viewed on the “Concerts” page of francemusique.fr and on ARTE Concert.

Keenly aware of the social and cultural role of the orchestra, each season the “Philhar” rethinks its projects to appeal to new audiences, particularly through creative programmes in schools, workshops, new forms of concerts, hospital concerts, participative concerts, etc. It is continuing to work with Jean-François Zygel on Clefs de l’orchestre (broadcast on the France Inter radio station and France Télévisions) so allowing the major works in the repertoire to be discovered. The musicians of the “Philhar” are particularly proud of their efforts to assist and train young musicians (“Orchestre à l’école” operation, Orchestra of the “Lycées français” of the world, an academy in liaison with the conservatories of the Paris region, etc.).

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Mikko Franck are Unicef ambassadors.

With the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Evgeny Svetlanov made his last recording – Stravinsky’s Petrushka –  in 1999.