2010-2011 Season
French Chamber Orchestra
April 1, 2011
12 Piece Chamber Orchestra
L’Orchestre de Chambre Français, acclaimed as one of
France’s best chamber orchestras, was founded in 1989 and is now based
in Senlis near Paris, where it is the resident orchestra of the 18th
century Théâtre Impérial in Compiège. L’Orchestre de Chambre Français is
equally at home in baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary music,
and takes a particular pleasure in bringing forgotten masterpieces to
life.
Its talented instrumentalists play orchestral music in the spirit of
chamber music. Many of its members are keen string quartet players and
bring with them that particular passion for individual and collective
music-making with the energy, technique and attention to ensemble that
kind of music requires.
L’Orchestre de Chambre Français has been an instrument for high quality
music-making in particular in Paris, performing at such venues as the
Salle Pleyel, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Palais des Congrès, Église St.
Germain des Prés, Hôtel de Lassay, etc., and throughout France.
In June 2005, they made their international debut playing at the Royal
Opera House Covent Garden. Their frequent overseas tours have been met
with a delighted reception, particularly in Spain where the orchestra is
one of the most sought after French chamber groups, with appearances at
the prestigious Santander International Festival, the Montserrat
International Music Week, the International Festivals of Palencia and
Gandia, and concerts in Madrid, Grenada, and other cities.
The orchestra also performs regularly in Switzerland (Tonhalle/Zürich,
Stadt Casino /Basel & Genève, Théâtre Beaulieu/Lausanne), Holland
(Concertgebouw/Amsterdam), Italy (the Roma International Festival of
sacred music, Teatro Regio di Parma, La Pieta church/Venezia, Teatro
Verdi/Fiorenzuola), Belgium (Palais des Beaux-Arts/Brussels), Germany,
England and the Czech Republic (the Trutnov Autumn Festival).
The ensemble made its US debut with a concert in November 2002 in Alice
Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York. In March 2005, they performed
at the National Gallery in Washington D.C. and with the Baltimore Choral
Arts Society. Their Fall 2006 tour took them to the Lane Series at the
University of Vermont, and to Canada, where they performed at Queens
University. Their Spring 2007 tour featured violin soloist Kyung Sun Lee
and conductor Brian Suits, and took them to Palm Springs, California,
and up the west coast to Oregon, culminating with a critically acclaimed
performance for Music Worcester in Massachusetts. In the Fall of 2007,
the orchestra performed at the Long Island Children’s Museum, and Czech
viola virtuoso Jitka Hosprová appeared as soloist with the orchestra in
Laguna Woods, California, and for the Danbury Concert Association in
Connecticut.
The orchestra performs regularly with well-known French soloists Maurice
André, Guy Touvron, Eric Aubier (trumpet), Jean-Claude Pennetier, Gérard
Caussé (viola), and Frédéric Lodéon (conductor and cellist).
The orchestra has recorded several CDs, among which a special “Homage à
l‘Europe” received an award at the famous “Victoires de la Musique” on
French National Television. L’Orchestre de Chambre Français is supported
by the French Ministry of Culture, Air France, The Council of the Oise,
the town of Senlis, and the Picardy Regional Council.
