ORTF National Orchestra

Composers

Biography

Active: Paris, France -
L'Orchestre National de France, formerly known as the ORTF National Orchestra, is one of the important international symphony orchestras.

In 1929, the French government established l'Office National de la Radiodiffusion (National Radio-Broadcasting Office) which in 1934 created the Orchestre National to serve its musical need. This was the first permanent French symphony orchestra, and its first conductor was D.E. Inghelbrecht. Hitler's Read more forces seized all radio facilities in France in 1940, broadcasting as Radio-Paris with programming that continued to use the National Orchestra. Opposing this propaganda was a BBC service devoted to the free French under exile leader Charles DeGaulle. After the war, and with the addition of television to its services, the radio organization changed its name to RTF (Radio-Television Française). In 1964, technological advance was reflected in a change of name, with RTF becoming l'ORTF (Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française), now under the control of the Ministry of Information.

Inghelbrecht had been succeeded as music director by Manuel Rosenthal, Roger Désormičre, Charles Münch, Maurice Le Roux, and Jean Martinon. In the post-war years, the ORTF National Orchestra began to build its reputation as one of the most modern-oriented of European orchestras, giving world premieres of works of Messiaen, Boulez, Xenakis, Varčse, and Dutilleux.

In 1974, the basic state monopoly on broadcasting was affirmed, but with seven public societies functioning. These included a research society, two production societies, and four programming societies: Television Française 1, Antenna 2, the Third Network (FR3) and Radio France. The ORTF National Orchestra was renamed the Orchestre National Française (French National Orchestra). Radio France founded a second orchestra, the Nouvel Philharmonique (now l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France).

The Orchestre National Française, in most commentators' views, has become the leading orchestra of France, although there are those who would nominate the Orchestre de Paris, founded in 1967 to replace the Conservatoire Society Orchestra. Sergiu Ceilibidache was briefly the French National Orchestra director, followed by Lorin Maazel, succeeded in 1991 by Charles Dutoit. In July 2001, Dutoit stepped down, with Kurt Masur accepting a three-year contract to follow him.

The orchestra performs regularly in Messiaen Hall in the Maison de Radio France, as well as other venues in Paris and on frequent tours. It gives around 120 concerts a year. Read less

Featured ORTF National Orchestra CDs & DVDs:

French Orchestral Music - Bizet, Chabrier, Faure & Saint-saens / Beecham
French Orchestral Music - Bizet, Chabrier, Faure & Saint-saens / Beecham
Release Date: 03/06/2007   Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century  
Catalog: 79985   Number of Discs: 1
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Debussy: Complete Piano Works, Fantasie & Orchestral Songs / Ciccolini
Debussy: Complete Piano Works, Fantasie & Orchestral Songs / Ciccolini
Release Date: 07/31/2020   Label: Erato  
Catalog: 546009   Number of Discs: 6
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Browse 51-75 of 75 Available Recordings
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  • 51.
    Milhaud: La Création du Monde, etc / Bernstein, French NO
    Milhaud: La Création du Monde, etc / Bernstein, French NO
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 45809 Release Date: 03/07/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Darius Milhaud
    Conductor:  Darius Milhaud,  Leonard Bernstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Concert Arts Orchestra,  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 52.
    Brahms, Mozart: Piano Concertos / Casadesus, Schuricht
    Brahms, Mozart: Piano Concertos / Casadesus, Schuricht
    Label: Urania Records   Catalog: 4247 Release Date: 02/28/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Robert Casadesus,  Gaby Casadesus,  Jean Casadesus
    Conductor:  Carl Schuricht,  Fernando Previtali
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra,  Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Turin
    CD: $17.99
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  • 53.
    Violin Concertos [live Recordings] / Francescatti
    Violin Concertos [live Recordings] / Francescatti
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 1171 Release Date: 02/28/2006   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Sergei Prokofiev,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Niccolň Paganini  ... 
    Performer:  Eugenis Bagnoli,  Zino Francescatti,  Robert Casadesus
    Conductor:  Antal Doráti,  Paul Kletzki,  Erich Leinsdorf,  André Cluytens
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra,  Orchestre de la Société du Conservatoire Paris
    CD: $44.49
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  • 54.
    Saint-Saens: Symphonies, Concertos / Martinon, Dervaux, Froment
    Saint-Saens: Symphonies, Concertos / Martinon, Dervaux, Froment
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 92777 Release Date: 11/29/2005   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Eugčne Ysa˙e
    Performer:  Gabriel Tacchino,  Ulf Hoelscher,  Bernard Gavoty,  Ralph Kirshbaum
    Conductor:  Louis de Froment,  Pierre Dervaux,  Jean Martinon
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Luxembourg Radio/Television Symphony Orchestra,  New Philharmonia Orchestra,  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 55.
    Michelangeli Plays Beethoven
    Michelangeli Plays Beethoven
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 1162 Release Date: 03/29/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
    Conductor:  Jean Martinon
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 56.
    Shostakovich: Piano Concertos, Fantastic Dances / Shostakovich, Cluytens
    Shostakovich: Piano Concertos, Fantastic Dances / Shostakovich, Cluytens
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 62648 Release Date: 10/07/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer:  Dmitri Shostakovich,  Ludovic Vaillant
    Conductor:  André Cluytens
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 57.
    Leonard Bernstein - A Total Embrace - The Conductor
    Leonard Bernstein - A Total Embrace - The Conductor
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 90578 Release Date: 09/09/2003   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Gustav Mahler,  Samuel Barber,  Manuel de Falla,  Maurice Ravel  ... 
    Performer:  David Evitts,  Patricia Wells,  Alan Titus,  Michael Devlin  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonard Bernstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic members,  New York Philharmonic,  ORTF National Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $21.99
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  • 58.
    Rapture - Opera's Most Heavenly Moments
    Rapture - Opera's Most Heavenly Moments
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 471717 Release Date: 10/08/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Wagner,  Vincenzo Bellini,  Georges Bizet,  Giacomo Puccini  ... 
    Performer:  Marilyn Horne,  Dame Joan Sutherland,  Teresa Berganza,  Mirella Freni  ... 
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  Richard Bonynge,  Giuseppe Sinopoli,  Sir Colin Davis  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Deutsche Oper Chorus,  Berlin Deutsche Oper Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $22.99
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  • 59.
    The Opera Album / Alagna, Callas, Pavarotti, Gheorghiu, Et Al
    The Opera Album / Alagna, Callas, Pavarotti, Gheorghiu, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 67830 Release Date: 08/13/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Giacomo Puccini,  Richard Wagner  ... 
    Performer:  Thomas Hampson,  José Carreras,  Jessye Norman,  Dame Kiri Te Kanawa  ... 
    Conductor:  Gianluigi Gelmetti,  Riccardo Muti,  Alain Lombard,  Klaus Tennstedt  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toscana Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Rhine Opera Chorus  ... 
    CD: $23.99
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  • 60.
    Nicolai Gedda - Lieder & Arias
    Nicolai Gedda - Lieder & Arias
    Label: Emi Classics Special Import   Catalog: 67684 Release Date: 01/08/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Franz Schubert,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Vito Carnevali  ... 
    Performer:  Nicolai Gedda,  Edda Moser,  Gerald Moore,  Heinz Schmidtpeter  ... 
    Conductor:  Gika Zdravkovitch,  Thomas Ungar,  Nils Grevillius,  Heinrich Bender  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra,  Munich State Opera Orchestra,  Royal Stockholm Opera Orchestra  ... 
    ArkivCD $24.99
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  • 61.
    Clara Haskil At Montreux - Mozart, Hindemith
    Clara Haskil At Montreux - Mozart, Hindemith
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 4864 Release Date: 06/26/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Paul Hindemith,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Clara Haskil
    Conductor:  Paul Hindemith
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    CD: $17.99
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  • 62.
    Bizet: Symphony in C, L'Arlesienne / Beecham, Royal PO
    Bizet: Symphony in C, L'Arlesienne / Beecham, Royal PO
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 67259 Release Date: 03/14/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Conductor:  Sir Thomas Beecham
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 63.
    Simply The Best Night At The Opera / Algana, Bartoli, Et Al
    Simply The Best Night At The Opera / Algana, Bartoli, Et Al
    Label: Erato   Catalog: 26499 Release Date: 07/06/1999   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Richard Wagner,  Giacomo Puccini  ... 
    Performer:  Samuel Ramey,  Annick Massis,  Marilyn Horne,  Hĺkan Hagegĺrd  ... 
    Conductor:  Claudio Scimone,  Marc Minkowski,  Lawrence Foster,  Marek Janowski  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  I Solisti Veneti,  Le Concert des Tuileries,  Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $17.99
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  • 64.
    French Orchestral Favorites - Dukas, Debussy, Satie / Pretre, Ortf National Orchestra
    French Orchestral Favorites - Dukas, Debussy, Satie / Pretre, Ortf National Orchestra
    Label: Emi Seraphim   Catalog: 73427 Release Date: 06/15/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Erik Satie,  Claude Debussy  ... 
    Performer:  André Gantiez,  Michčle Boussinot,  Philippe Pierlot
    Conductor:  Georges Prętre
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    ArkivCD $16.99
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  • 65.
    Saint-Saens: Symphony No 3,
    Saint-Saens: Symphony No 3, "Organ," Etc / Ozawa, Ochestre National de France
    Label: Emi Seraphim   Catalog: 73430 Release Date: 06/15/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer:  Philippe Lefebvre
    Conductor:  Seiji Ozawa
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    CD: $7.99
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  • 66.
    Dukas: Symphonie En Ut, Etc / Slatkin, National De France
    Dukas: Symphonie En Ut, Etc / Slatkin, National De France
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 68802 Release Date: 01/12/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Paul Dukas
    Conductor:  Leonard Slatkin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    CD: $11.99
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  • 67.
    Bravo Domingo
    Bravo Domingo
    Label: Dg Double   Catalog: 459352 Release Date: 09/15/1998   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Carl Maria von Weber,  Gioachino Rossini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Carlos Gardel  ... 
    Performer:  Placido Domingo,  Rosalind Plowright,  Walter Gullino,  Sherrill Milnes  ... 
    Conductor:  Rafael Kubelik,  Claudio Abbado,  Georges Prętre,  Roberto Pansera  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra,  Chamber Orchestra of Europe,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra  ... 
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  • 68.
    Heroes - Nicolai Gedda - Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Et Al
    Heroes - Nicolai Gedda - Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 66535 Release Date: 10/14/1997   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Gioachino Rossini,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Franz Lehár  ... 
    Performer:  Nicolai Gedda,  Ernest Blanc,  André Mallabrera
    Conductor:  Gika Zdravkovitch,  Lamberto Gardelli,  James Levine,  Josef Krips  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
    ArkivCD $16.99
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  • 69.
    Ravel - Greatest Hits
    Ravel - Greatest Hits
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 64067 Release Date: 08/09/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel
    Performer:  Branford Marsalis
    Conductor:  Pierre Boulez,  Carlo Maria Giulini,  Andrew Litton,  Zubin Mehta  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic,  Camerata Singers,  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $8.99
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  • 70.
    Prokofiev: Works For Orchestra Vol I / Jean Martinon
    Prokofiev: Works For Orchestra Vol I / Jean Martinon
    Label: Vox Box   Catalog: 5001 Release Date: 11/04/1992   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Sergei Prokofiev
    Conductor:  Jean Martinon
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    CD: $12.99
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  • 71.
    Prokofiev: Works for Orchestra Vol II / Jean Martinon
    Prokofiev: Works for Orchestra Vol II / Jean Martinon
    Label: Vox Box   Catalog: 5054 Release Date: 11/04/1992   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Sergei Prokofiev
    Conductor:  Jean Martinon
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 72.
    Prokofiev: Symphony No 1, Suites / Maazel
    Prokofiev: Symphony No 1, Suites / Maazel
    Label: Cbs Masterworks Digital Masters   Catalog: 46502 Release Date: 01/09/1991   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Sergei Prokofiev
    Conductor:  Lorin Maazel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
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  • 73.
    Holst: The Planets; Ravel: Bolero / Lorin Maazel
    Holst: The Planets; Ravel: Bolero / Lorin Maazel
    Label: Cbs Masterworks Digital Masters   Catalog: 44781 Release Date: 10/25/1990   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel,  Gustav Holst
    Conductor:  Lorin Maazel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    CD: $14.99
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  • 74.
    Tchaikovsky: The Great Symphonies Vol II / Maazel
    Tchaikovsky: The Great Symphonies Vol II / Maazel
    Label: Cbs Masterworks Digital Masters   Catalog: 44785 Release Date: 10/25/1990   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Sergei Prokofiev,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Conductor:  Lorin Maazel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra,  Cleveland Orchestra
    CD: $17.99
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  • 75.
    Prokofiev: Peter & The Wolf; Britten / Lorin Maazel
    Prokofiev: Peter & The Wolf; Britten / Lorin Maazel
    Label: Dg Musikfest   Catalog: 415921 Release Date: 05/01/1990   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Benjamin Britten,  Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer:  Lorin Maazel,  Alec Clunes
    Conductor:  Lorin Maazel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    CD: $12.99
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