Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège

In Liège, the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège brings the symphonic repertoire to life in a venue that is also a meeting place. Founded in October 1960 by Fernand Quinet, then director of the Conservatory, it is the only professional symphony orchestra in French-speaking Belgium. Its home is the Salle Philharmonique, inaugurated in 1887 and managed by the orchestra since 2000.

Initially called the Orchestre de Liège, it became the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège in 1983, and was officially granted the title “Société Royale” in 2010. Its history has been marked by conductors such as Manuel Rosenthal, Pierre Bartholomée, Christian Arming and Gergely Madaras. It pairs the great classical and romantic repertoires with French music, 20th-century works and contemporary creation. From the 1980s onwards it commissioned and premiered works by Berio, Boesmans, Pousseur, Takemitsu and Xenakis.

Concerts, recordings, educational projects and family events nourish its activity. Its catalogue includes about 140 recordings. The orchestra has entrusted its music direction to Lionel Bringuier beginning in September 2025, for a term announced at four years.