Tour Dates: 28 Dec, 2012 - 5 Jan, 2013

The orchestra was established in 1935 under the aegis of the public broadcasting network. In 1998, it began its independent existence as the Vlaams Radio Orkest (Flemish Radio Orchestra).

Tour Dates: 28 Dec, 2012 - 5 Jan, 2013

The orchestra was established in 1935 under the aegis of the public broadcasting network. In 1998, it began its independent existence as the Vlaams Radio Orkest (Flemish Radio Orchestra). From 2008 onwards, its new name Brussels Philharmonic – the orchestra of Flanders has highlighted its close ties both to its home city, Brussels, and to public broadcasting.

The great 20th century repertoire, contemporary music and film music: the Brussels Philharmonic – the orchestra of Flanders is like a musical chameleon in the way it combines the most diverse styles for a wide audience. In each programme, the orchestra works with soloists and guest conductors who enrich the orchestra with their own vision and experience.

The programme of the Brussels Philharmonic – the orchestra of Flanders is centred on a number of series offered in Brussels, both at Flagey, where the ensemble also rehearses, and at the Centre for Fine Arts. In addition, the orchestra is also at home in Flanders, appearing both at major venues (the Concertgebouw in Bruges, de Singel and Queen Elisabeth Concert Hall in Antwerp, De Bijloke in Ghent and the Kursaal in Ostend) and in important cultural centres (Leuven, Hasselt, Roeselare, Turnhout). The orchestra has also attained international renown, as a result of which it enjoys a base in Paris (Cité de la musique and Salle Pleyel) and gives regular concerts in the Netherlands (the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, De Doelen in Rotterdam).

Brussels Philharmonic – the orchestra of Flanders is a permanent partner of the Festival of Flanders, Ars Musica and the Flanders International Film Festival - Ghent, and works regularly with the Royal Ballet of Flanders.

The ties with public broadcasting remain strong: the orchestra works closely with radio and television for both recordings and events. In addition, the Brussels Philharmonic – the orchestra of Flanders participates in the classicLive.com network, which makes various concerts available via live streaming. The digital culture channel Exqi also carries a selection of its concerts, accompanied by background reports.

Together with various partners, the Brussels Philharmonic – the orchestra of Flanders collaborates on a variety of CD series: with the Flemish classical music radio station Klara on a number of Flemish composers, with the Glossa label on the important 20th century repertoire, and with the Flanders International Film Festival - Ghent on major composers of film music.

The Brussels Philharmonic – Flemish Radio Orchestra is supported by the Flemish Community and receives funds from the National Lottery. Its media partners are Klara, De Morgen and Roularta.

Michel Tabachnik, Chief Conductor/Artistic Director

 Starting the season 2008-2009, Michel Tabachnik will play a key role as new chief conductor/artistic director of the Brussels Philharmonic – het Vlaams Radio Orkest. He wishes to combine the great orchestral repertoire with 20th century music in a manner that is both creative and audience-friendly. In this way he hopes to narrow the gap between the general public and contemporary music. His creed: ‘Brussels Philharmonic – het Vlaams Radio Orkest is not a museum but a platform for living music.’ 

Michel Tabachnik studied piano and orchestral conducting in Geneva. Upon graduation, he was a protégé of major conductors such as Igor Markevitch, Herbert von Karajan and Pierre Boulez. For four years he served as Boulez’s assistant, mainly with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London. This experience led him to become closely involved with contemporary music and to perform many world premieres, particularly of works by Iannis Xenakis, who considered him his favourite interpreter.

Michel Tabachnik held the post of chief conductor of the Gulbenkian Foundation Orchestra in Lisbon, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Lorraine and the Ensemble InterContemporain in Paris. His impressive curriculum vitae includes appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Tokyo NHK, the Orchestre de Paris and at festivals such as those of Lucerne, Salzburg and Aix-en-Provence. In the operatic field, Michel Tabachnik has conducted at the opera houses of Paris, Geneva, Zürich, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Rome, Montreal and Genoa. He has been a regular guest with the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto, where he led, among other works, Lohengrin, Madama Butterfly, Carmen and the Rake’s Progress.

In September 2005, Michel Tabachnik took up the post of musical director of the North Netherlands Orchestra (NNO). His influence on the NNO was remarkable from the very beginning of the season: the presence of this eminent Swiss conductor made its mark in a series of positive reviews in the press. De Telegraaf wrote thus about Tabachnik’s first official concert as principal conductor: “The Swiss conductor has once again demonstrated his exceptional quality; the orchestra has never before had a conductor of this rank ... The North Netherlands Orchestra can expect great things from Tabachnik.”

In the 2004-2005 season, Michel Tabachnik conducted the Prague Philharmonia on tour at the “Cité de la Musique” in Paris. “The public gave Michel Tabachnik a long ovation”, wrote France-Soir, for “Michel Tabachnik let himself be carried by the music in a most moving, grandiose performance.  Pierre Boulez came to thank his friend in person, not least for a programme in which the many-sided talent of Michel Tabachnik was shown off to such advantage. For the maestro certainly has a predilection for a repertoire that juxtaposes works from various periods. The two high points of the evening were without any doubt the overture to Wagner’s Lohengrin and Terretektorh by Xenakis.”

Another high point was his appearance with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in March 2003. The daily newspaper Trouw wrote: “He showed what astonishing heights this orchestra can reach. Under Tabachnik’s baton, the strings played with marvellous unity and precision, in the tradition that made the Concertgebouw Orchestra so famous.”

Michel Tabachnik also has close affinity with young musicians and has worked with various international youth orchestras. He was artistic director of the Orchestre des Jeunes du Québec and of the Orchestre des Jeunes de la Méditerranée, an orchestra he founded in 1984 and with which he maintained ties for twelve years. A respected teacher, he has led numerous masterclasses in places such as Hilversum (NOS), Lisbon (the Gulbenkian Foundation) and the conservatories of Paris and Stockholm. He has also held the position of professor of orchestral conducting at the faculties of music of the University of Toronto (1984-1991) and the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen (1993-2001).

His discography (on Erato and Lyrinx) demonstrates the breadth of his repertoire, which ranges from Beethoven through Wagner to Honegger and Xenakis. His recording of the Schumann Piano Concerto (with Catherine Collard as soloist) was chosen Best Performance of this work by the international jury at the Radio Suisse Romande.

In 1995, Michel Tabachnik was named Artist of the Year by the Italian ‘Centro Internazionale de Arte e Cultura’ in Rome.

Starting with the 2008-2009 season, Michel Tabachnik will be the new chief conductor / artistic director of the Brussels Philharmonic – the Orchestra of Flanders. In this post he will play a key role in expanding the repertoire of the orchestra as well as in building a broad and faithful audience. Tabachnik wishes to combine the great orchestral repertoire with twentieth-century music in a manner that is both creative and audience-friendly. In this way he hopes to narrow the gap between the general public and contemporary music.