In 1958, Lola Bobesco created Les Solistes de Bruxelles (The Brussels Soloists), later called the Eugène Ysaÿe String Ensemble, and finally the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia (Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, O.R.C.W.).
The orchestra has played regularly with internationally renowned artists, including Mstislav Rostropovich, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maïski, Maria João Pires, Arthur Grumiaux, Aldo Ciccolini, José Van Dam, Maurice André, Jean- Pierre Rampal, Paul Tortelier, Janos Starker, Jean- Bernard Pommier, Louis Lortie, Jian Wang, Ivry Gitlis, Gérad Caussé, etc.
Since 2003, the O.R.C.W. has benefitted from the dynamism and international standing of its Musical Director, Augustin Dumay. Under his direction, the orchestral has frequently been invited to festivals and important centres: the Festivals of Radio France Montpellier, Menton, La Roque d’Anthéron, the Auditorium de Lyon, the “Flâneries Musicales” of Reims, the “Grands Interprètes” of Toulouse, the Théâtre des Champs- Élysées, Beijing, Abu Dhabi, Bucharest, the Fondation Gianadda (Martigny, Switzerland), etc.
Frank Braley will succeed him in 2014. In 2014 and 2015, Frank Braley and Augustin Dumay (Principal Guest Conductor), long-time associates, will be finalising large-scale projects for “Mons 2015 – European Capital of Culture”. The orchestra is in residence in Mons (Belgium, Wallonia-Brussels Federation). It is developing several series there with Le Manège and ARTS2 (the Royal Conservatory of Mons). With the latter, it is working on behalf of young musicians in collaboration with the Province of Hainaut.
In Belgium, the ensemble is a partner in all the festivals, often under the direction of its first violin (Jean-François Chamberlan): the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition, the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Bozar, Flagey in Brussels, etc.
The orchestra is also active in chamber music, chamber opera and contemporary musical theatre. It has received numerous prestigious prizes for its recordings.
