The Orchestre national de Lyon in brief

Since September 2020, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider has been Music Director of the Orchestre national de Lyon (ONL) and its 104 resident musicians.

The ONL, originally the Société des Grands Concerts de Lyon, was founded in 1905 by Georges Martin Witkowski. It gained residency in 1969 at the instigation of the City of Lyon’s cultural councillor, Robert Proton de la Chapelle. Louis Frémaux, the ONL’s original Music Director (1969-1971), was succeeded by Serge Baudo (1971-1987), Emmanuel Krivine (1987-2000), David Robertson (2000-2004), Jun Märkl (2005-2011) and Leonard Slatkin (2011- 2017), currently Conductor Laureate. The ONL enjoys the privilege of rehearsing and performing in a dedicated concert hall, the 2,100-seat Lyon Auditorium.

Recognised for its performances of Ravel, Debussy and Berlioz, the ONL explores a varied repertoire ranging from the 18th century to the present day. It regularly commissions contemporary composers, such as Kaija Saariaho, Thierry Escaich, Guillaume Connesson and, this season, its Composer-in-Association, Brett Dean. The richness of its repertoire is reflected in an extensive discography, notably under the Naxos label.

With characteristic verve, the ONL has charted new territory with its live cinema concerts, ranging from epic sagas such as The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars to silent film classics. It plays an active role in educational and outreach initiatives, and is committed to affordable pricing for youth audiences, ambitious projects for schools and families, and a new education and outreach facility that hosts year-round sound workshops.

In 2017/2018, the Auditorium-Orchestre national de Lyon launched the Démos project, a socially-oriented musical and orchestral outreach programme in the Lyon metropolitan area.

In addition to its concerts in the Auditorium, the ONL performs in the world’s leading concert venues. In 1979, it was the first European symphony orchestra to perform in China. In recent months, it has played in the main cities in Germany (Berlin Philharmony, Leipzig, Munich), China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) and Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg). In 2020/2021 he should have toured Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

The orchestra’s key dates

1905 : SOCIÉTÉ DES GRANDS CONCERTS DE LYON

Following the success of a choral society, a Schola Cantorum founded with Charles Bordes in 1903 along similar lines to its sister establishment in Paris, Georges Martin Witkowski founds in 1905 the Société des Grands Concerts de Lyon, ancestor of the Orchestre national de Lyon.

The orchestra’s key dates

1938 : ASSOCIATION PHILHARMONIQUE

In 1938, Georges Martin Witkowski led a merger with the Trigentuor, an ensemble of 30 musicians founded in 1925. The new orchestra called itself the Association philharmonique de Lyon.

The orchestra’s key dates

1969: OPRAL, THE FIRST PERMANENT ORCHESTRA

In 1969, a permanent orchestra is set up in Lyon. The Société philharmonique serves as the nucleus of the new orchestra, named the Opral, for “Orchestre philharmonique Rhône-Alpes”.

The orchestra’s key dates

1971 : SERGE BAUDO AND THE ORCHESTRE DE LYON

In 1971, Louis Frémaux left Lyon for the United Kingdom. Serge Baudo agreed to conduct the Opral.

The orchestra’s key dates

1984 : ORCHESTRE NATIONAL DE LYON

In 1984, on its 15th anniversary, the orchestra was awarded the label of “national orchestra”, confirming its exclusive status as a symphony orchestra and recognising its excellence and its ambassadorial role in the Rhône-Alpes region, throughout France and abroad.

The orchestra’s key dates

1987 : Emmanuel Krivine

Emmanuel Krivine succeeded Serge Baudo on 1 October 1987 and remained at the orchestra’s head until 21 July 2000.

The orchestra’s key dates

2000 : DAVID ROBERTSON

On 18 December 1998, the Mayor of Lyon, Raymond Barre, announced the appointment of David Robertson with effect from 1 September 2000. 

The orchestra’s key dates

2005 : Jun Märkl

David Robertson left the Orchestre national de Lyon in 2004 for the St. Louis Orchestra in Missouri. Jun Märkl was appointed to succeed him from September 2005. 

The orchestra’s key dates

2011 : Leonard Slatkin

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider will become the seventh music director of the Orchestre national de Lyon (ONL) in September 2020: a landmark in a prominent international career that in recent years has seen the violinist also take on the role of conductor.

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider became the seventh music director of the Orchestre national de Lyon (ONL) in September 2020 : a landmark in a prominent international career that in recent years has seen the violinist also take on the role of conductor.