For almost 170 years, the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra has been pursuing an ambitious symphonic music project. Awarded the status of national orchestra in 1994, it is one of the leading orchestras in France and Europe, whose uniqueness stems from its rich history and its dual French and Germanic tradition.

Its raison d'être is to share musical excellence and emotion with an ever-expanding audience. Anchored in its time, it aims to be a responsible and virtuous cultural player. Every season, it strives to open its doors to as many people as possible, with innovative concert formats that are accessible to all.

Under the musical direction of Aziz Shokhakimov since 2021, the 110 musicians who embody this project of an orchestra open to the world on a daily basis welcome nearly 100,000 spectators each season, from the Salle Erasme to the villages of Alsace, while also making their mark on the major international stages.

A responsible orchestra committed to its region, with a varied and accessible programme

The Orchestra performs a vast repertoire, from the ^eighteenth century to the present day, inviting conductors and soloists of international stature, as well as a new generation of artists whom it endeavours to promote. It regularly commissions works from composers and organises artists in residence (Nemanja Radulović, Bruno Mantovani, Alexandre Tharaud, etc.). In addition to his major symphony seasons, he is a regular guest in the pit of the Opéra national de Rhin, with whom he has also developed numerous collaborations.

Over the years, the Orchestra has endeavoured to renew the formats of its concerts so that the richness of classical music can be discovered more widely: chamber music concerts at all times of the day (including at breakfast! ), one-hour symphony concerts, family concerts from age 3 upwards, instrument discovery workshops, meetings with the artists, etc. The Orchestra is also working to make its concerts more accessible to disabled audiences, by acquiring vibrating waistcoats and organising ‘Relax’ concerts.

Aware of the major role that artists can and must play in society, the Orchestra is very active in the social and medico-social field and has forged close links with existing associations. For three years now, it has been running a major partnership project in the heart of the Hautepierre district.

The Orchestra also works closely with a large number of local cultural players: the Conservatoire and the Haute École des Arts du Rhin, the Jazzdor Festival, the Théâtre National de Strasbourg, Espace Django, the Strasbourg Philharmonic Choir, the Bibliothèques idéales and the Médiathèques.

The Orchestra's roots and commitment to corporate citizenship are also reflected in a reflection on its social responsibility and environmental impact, which has resulted in the completion of a carbon footprint in 2023 and the implementation of an action plan.

A local player with international reach

Well established in its region, the Orchestra spends a large part of its time in the Eurometropole and the whole of Alsace, with symphonic and chamber music concerts, and school performances accompanied by outreach activities.

A true cultural ambassador for Strasbourg and the region, the Orchestra distinguished itself at the Philharmonie de Paris with its unanimously acclaimed performance of Mahler's Third Symphony in January 2023, and it will perform there again in November 2024 with Nemanja Radulović - artist in residence.

He also performs in Europe's most prestigious concert halls (Lucerne's KKL, Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie, Munich's Gasteig, Vienna's Musikverein, etc.). During the 2023-2024 season, it was the only French orchestra to perform in the United Kingdom; the success of this tour earned it an immediate reinvitation for the next season. Finally, the Orchestra has a presence in Asia, where it undertook successful tours of South Korea in 2017 and 2022.

Strong audiovisual activity

The Orchestra is stepping up its international expansion thanks to an ambitious recording strategy, made possible by the long-term support of major audiovisual companies (Accent 4, Arte, France Musique, France Télévisions, Medici.tv and Radio Classique).

On disc, the Orchestra is causing a sensation with its Berlioz cycle, which began in 2017 under the direction of John Nelson. Other critical successes follow: Baritenor with Michael Spyres and Marko Letonja in 2022, Tchaikovsky in 2023 - the first opus under Aziz Shokhakimov, followed by a second CD devoted to Prokofiev in June 2024. The year 2025 will be marked by the publication of a masterpiece of French music, Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel, of whom the Music Director is a fervent admirer.