The Rouen Philharmonic Orchestra (French: Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Normandie) is a symphony orchestra based in Rouen in Normandy, France. It is housed in the Rouen Opera House.

Founded in 1998 by Austrian conductor , the orchestra is one of France's leading musical institutions. British conductor Ben Glassberg was offered the conductorship and his appointment was effective from the commencement of the 2020-2021 season.

Orchestra 

Overview

The orchestra was formed in 1998 by Oswald Sallaberger in an endeavour to organize a professional orchestra in the city of Rouen.

Based on a Mozart formation, the orchestra is made up of more than 40 permanent musicians. It is often reinforced by additional non-permanent artists, enriching the breadth of the orchestra and allowing for special musical programs and events requiring a larger ensemble.

The orchestra is alternately conducted by its current musical director, Leo Hussain, or by local and foreign guest conductors who impulse a continuously renewed and refreshed approach to music.

Repertoire

The orchestra's scope ranges from Baroque music to contemporary music. They notably performed Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer and Britten's Curlew River.

Specificity

The orchestra also organizes concerts requiring catgut strings instruments and traditional bows, offering musicians the opportunity to fully express their talents. The orchestra also highly encourages its musicians to further develop their technicality and widen their personal scope by programming concerts of chamber music and allowing them to perform as soloists. It is France's first orchestra to offer that alternative.

International recognition

It holds musical performances worldwide, either in Normandy, in other regions of France or in overseas countries. The orchestra has toured to cities such as Bruges, Brussels, Delhi, Hanover, Havana, Luxembourg, New York City and Paris. The orchestra benefits from international recognition and was acclaimed on numerous occasions for the professionalism displayed in its rendition of musical masterpieces.

Musical direction

Current directorship 

Ben Glassberg was appointed conductor of the orchestra upon the termination of Hussain's contract. The orchestra's founding director, Oswald Sallaberger, is still closely involved in the running of the musical institution.

Former directors 

 1998–2011 : Oswald Sallaberger (Austrian)
 2011–2014 : Luciano Acocella (Italian)
 2014–2020 : Leo Hussain (British)

Guest conductors

Current guest conductors

Former guest conductors 

 2002–2005 : David Stern, principal guest conductor (American)

Musicians

Permanent musicians 

violin
 Jane Peters, leader (Australian)
 Teona Kharadze, principal second violin (Georgian)
 Hervé Walczak Le Sauder, principal second violin (French)
 Tristan Benveniste, co-leader second violin (French)
 Hélène Bordeaux, violin (French)
 Elena Chesneau, violin (Russian)
 Nathalie Demarest, violin
 Alice Estienne-Hotellier, violin (French)
 Etienne Hotellier, violin (French)
 Marc Lemaire, violin (French)
 Elena Pease, violin
 Laurent Soler, violin (French)
 Pascale Thiébaux, violin (French)

Viola
 Patrick Dussart, soloist viola
 Agathe Blondel, soloist viola (French)
 Thierry Corbier, viola (French)
 Stéphanie Lalizet, viola (French)
 Cédric Rousseau, viola (French)

Cello
 Florent Audibert, soloist cello (French)
 Anaël Rousseau, soloist cello (French)
 Jacques Perez, cello (French)
 Hélène Latour, cello (French)

Bass
 Gwendal Etrillard, soloist bass (French)
 Baptiste Andrieu, bass (French)

Flute
 Jean-Christophe Falala, soloist flute (French)
 Kouchyar Shahroudi, flute (Iranian)

Oboe
 Jérôme Laborde, soloist oboe (French)
 Fabrice Rousson, oboe (French)

Clarinet
 Naoko Yoshimura, soloist clarinet (Japanese)
 Florianne Tardy, clarinet

Bassoon
 Batiste Arcaix, soloist bassoon (French)

Horn
 Pierre-Olivier Goll, soloist horn (French)
 Eric Lemardeley, horn (French)

Trumpet
 Franck Paque, soloist trumpet (French)
 Patrice Antonangelo, trumpet (French)

Timpani
 Philippe Bajard, soloist timpani (French)

Source:

References

External links 
 

Symphony orchestras
French orchestras
Rouen
Musical groups from Normandy