In September 2005, Russian musician Tugan Sokhiev took over the running of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the first guest conductor and music consultant in the orchestra’s history. Since September 2008 he has also been the ensemble’s Music Director.
The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse was founded in the early 19th century specially for the Théâtre du Capitole’s opera seasons, acquiring symphony orchestra status in 1945. Over the years, it has been led by André Cluytens and Georges Prêtre. The arrival of Michel Plasson in 1968 was to be a decisive stage in the orchestra’s development. Under his management the symphony music repertoire expanded significantly. The orchestra toured abroad on numerous occasions and recorded numerous discs at the Emi France studio. Thanks to the “musical renaissance” programme run on the initiative of Marcel Landowski, the number of musicians rose to one hundred and four, and in 1980 the Ministry of Culture awarded the ensemble “Orchestre National” status.
Michel Plasson left the post of Director of the Orchestre National du Capitole in 2003, though even to day he remains its honorary conductor.
The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse performs at symphony music seasons at Toulouse’s La Halle aux Grains and at music and choreography seasons at the Théâtre du Capitole, as well as giving numerous concerts in other towns in the region. Moreover, the orchestra is a regular participant at various festivals (in 2007 and 2008 these included the festivals Piano aux Jacobins, Chorégies d’Orange, Nuits de Fourvière and Présences de Radio France among others), while tours abroad have brought it international acclaim.
The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse has recorded numerous discs with renowned solo artists. Recent recordings under Michel Plasson include Carmen with Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, which proved a great success among critics and the public alike and which was rewarded a Victoire de la Musique award in the category “Classical Album of the Year” (2004), as well as a DVD recording of the opera Werther (baritone version) with Thomas Hampson and Susan Graham made at the Théâtre du Châtelet in 2006.
Following Tugan Sokhiev’s appointment, the Orchestre National du Capitole concluded a contract with the recording company Naïve Classique. Together with this company they have already recorded two discs – Musorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony (2006) and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf featuring the actress Valérie Lemercier (2007).
In February 2008 at the anniversary fifteenth Victoires de la Musique awards ceremony at the Halle aux Grains in Toulouse the orchestra was awarded the honorary prize Victoire d’honneur. |
