Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse

The Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse was founded at the beginning of the nineteenth Century, to perform operas during the seasons of the Théâtre du Capitole. Its vocation as a Symphonic Orchestra was established after 1945, with André Cluytens and Georges Prêtre as musical director. The appointment of Michel Plasson in 1968 marked a decisive step in the activity of the Orchestra, in France and abroad.

La Halle aux Grains, a covered market used for the trading of cereals from 1864 became a sports centre in 1952 and a concert hall in 1974. That was the year Michel Plasson discovered the originality and acoustics of this superb hexagonal building located in the heart of town. At his request, Toulouse's town council made every effort to comfortably install the Orchestre du Capitole in La Halle aux Grains where it remains to this very day. This magic location is able to seat 2.500 people round the orchestra. In 1988, Toulouse's town council brought in architects, scenic artists and experts in acoustics to make it more comfortable for the audience. La Halle aux Grains is now considered to be one of Europe's greatest musical centres. In 1980, the French Ministry of Culture decided to give the title of Orchestre National to the Orchestre du Capitole.

Michel Plasson left the Orchestra in August 2003 and currently holds the title of Conductor Emeritus. Since September 2005, Tugan Sokhiev has been Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Adviser of the Orchestra. Since September 2008, he is now its Musical Director. The Orchestra is invited by numerous festivals and concert halls. It is frequently invited by the prestigious salle Pleyel in Paris. A large number of tours have also increased the celebrity of the Orchestra abroad. In 2008/2009 the Orchestra did a series of concerts in several European capitals.

The Orchestre National du Capitole has recorded about a hundred CD: for example, "Carmen" by Bizet with Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, which has unanimously been acclaimed by the critic and the public and which won a "Victoire de la Musique 2004" as "the classical recording of the year". Tugan Sokhiev and the Orchestre National du Capitole have now signed a contract with Naïve Classique. Their first recording of Mussorgsky (Pictures at an Exhibition) and Tchaikovsky (Symphony #4) has been released in 2006 and immediately acclaimed by the critics and the public. Their second recording, Pierre et le Loup with Valérie Lemercier as a narrator, came out at the Autumn 2007. In February 2008, the Orchestra received a "Victoire d'honneur" during the 15th edition of the Victoires de la Musique Classique that took place in la Halle aux Grains in Toulouse.

Karol Beffa has been the Orchestra's composer in residence since the season 2006/2007. Under the baton of Tugan Sokhiev, the Orchestre National du Capitole and Boris Berezovsky have created his Concerto pour piano in May 2009.