BELGIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

Founded in 1936, the Belgian National Orchestra (ONB) is based in the heart of Brussels, within the Palais des Beaux-Arts (Bozar), with the Henry Le Bœuf Hall remaining its natural home. From the outset, the orchestra has been a pillar of Belgian musical life, becoming one of the historic partners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

The orchestra regularly invites some of the world’s greatest soloists, including Hilary Hahn, Christian Tetzlaff, Roberto Alagna, Augustin Hadelich, Aleksandra Kurzak, Leif Ove Andsnes, Víkingur Ólafsson, Sergey Khachatryan, and Truls Mørk, among others.

Under the leadership of its principal conductor Antony Hermus, the Belgian ensemble presents a rich and diverse programming, balancing the masterpieces of the symphonic repertoire with rare and contemporary works. Each season, the orchestra collaborates with a composer in residence, such as Thomas Adès, Wim Henderickx, or Julia Wolfe, to continually enrich its musical language.

Committed to reaching all audiences, the orchestra also develops original concert formats, such as short concerts, film concerts, and thematic subscriptions. The ONB also leads tailor-made educational projects for all ages and social initiatives that make classical music accessible to a wide range of people and generations. Furthermore, it engages in cross-disciplinary collaborations with contemporary artists like Stromae, Ozark Henry, Scylla, and Zaho de Sagazan, reinforcing its connection with contemporary society.

Rooted in the European capital, the orchestra develops artistic projects with major neighboring institutions like Bozar and La Monnaie, while also performing across Belgium. It regularly appears on renowned international stages, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Philharmonie in Paris, and the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden, and embarks on international tours to the United Kingdom, Spain, and South Korea.