Hold the presses: Orchestra changes its name

Hold the presses: Orchestra changes its name

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norman lebrecht

April 06, 2017

As of today, the Royal Flemish Philharmonic has changed its name to Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

This new name emphasises the link to its host city and its new concert hall, and will help to strengthen the orchestra’s international profile, says the press release.

You weren’t aware it had an international profile? Maybe that was the problem.

Or maybe it’s because there’s no music director.

Under the leadership of Principal Guest Conductor Philippe Herreweghe and Conductor Laureate Edo de Waart, and previously Chief Conductor Jaap van Zweden and Principal Guest Conductor Martyn Brabbins, the orchestra aims to move and inspire the widest possible audience with top-class concert experiences.

What was that name, again?

Comments

  • Robert Holmén says:

    What made it “Royal”?

    Is that an appellation for any government-run org in a monarchy or was there some more specific involvement?

  • Wurtfangler says:

    Presumably it wants to distinguish itself from the Flanders Symphony Orchestra? Doesn’t seem unreasonable.

  • Pamela Brown says:

    This would be analogous to, for example, the Minnesota Orchestra changing its name back to the Minneapolis Symphony…what are they thinking?

  • Carol White says:

    I think “Antwerp” is a much stronger brand then “Flemish”. Also, there is only one orchestra in Antwerp, but a few in Flanders, so it seems a logical change to me? An internationally appealing name feels like a great step.
    I don’t really understand the suggested correlation with their MD search?

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