Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine

The Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestra (French: Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, or ONBA) is a major French regional symphonic ensemble, accompanying operatic and ballet productions in Bordeaux as well as mounting concerts of its own. Beginning in the 1980s, the orchestra grew in size and artistic ambition and started to attract conductors from beyond France. The roots of the Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestra stretch back into the 19th century in Bordeaux, where the Orchestre de la Société Saint-Cécilie was established in 1853 by theater orchestra conductor Charles Mézeray. In 1940, this orchestra merged with one called the Association des Professeurs du Conservatoire, led by Bordeaux Conservatory director Gaston Poulet. Poulet became the conductor of the new ensemble, called the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. He stepped down in 1944 and was replaced by Georges Carrère, who headed the conservatory as well and remained in these posts until 1963. During this period, the group was renamed the Orchestre Philharmonique de Bordeaux. Another new director, Jacques Pernoo, brought more name changes, first to Orchestre Symphonique de Bordeaux and then to Orchestre de Bordeaux Aquitaine. Under director Roberto Benzi (1972-1987), the orchestra grew to 95 musicians, began to tour outside France, and moved into Bordeaux's Palais des sports de Bordeaux, a sports arena that was soon devoted entirely to music. (It has been replaced by a new 1,400-seat building but remains the orchestra's home.) Music director Alain Lombard held the baton from 1988 to 1995 and once again increased the orchestra's size to 120 musicians. He clashed with Bordeaux's conservative political leadership, headed by future French prime minister Alain Juppé, and was dismissed in 1995. During Lombard's tenure, the orchestra took on its current name. Since then, the orchestra has had mostly foreign conductors: John Neschling (1996-1998), Hans Graf (1998-2004), Christian Lauba (2004-2006), Kwamé Ryan (2007-2013), and since 2013, Paul Daniel. In addition to concerts in Bordeaux and other cities, the orchestra is a frequent guest at La Folle Journée de Nantes, La Roque-d'Anthéron, and other French festivals. The ONBA has made recordings for the Naxos, Deutsche Grammophon, and Mirare labels, among others. In 2019, the group moved to Erato for the album Mer(s), featuring contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux.