Philippe CASSARD

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PHILIPPE CASSARD 35
Orchestre national de Lorraine
In permanent residence at the Arsenal and partner of the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole
In 2002 Jacques Mercier was appointed Music Director. The same year, in
acknowledgment of the excellence of its work, the Philharmonie de Lorraine was
awarded the label ‘national’ by the French Ministry of Culture, twenty-six years after it
was created.
Today, the confidence accorded to this formation, nowknown as theOrchestre National
de Lorraine, has allowed it to benefit from working conditions unique in France: it
appears not only at the Arsenal (recognised as one of the finest European concert halls)
but also at the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole. Since 2009, the Orchestre National
de Lorraine has also presented performances at its magnificent ‘Maison de l’Orchestre’.
Regarded as one of the leading ambassadors of the cultural life of the Grand Est, its
home region, it also gives many concerts elsewhere in France and abroad.
Under the leadership of JacquesMercier, the Orchestre National de Lorraine performs an
extremely varied repertoire, ranging fromClassical works to premieres of contemporary
pieces, paying special attention to French music.
With the creation of the Cité Musicale, the City of Metz places the Orchestre National de
Lorraine and the Arsenal, along with Les Trinitaires and BAM, at the heart of an indispensable
cultural platform with hundreds of concerts every year, dance, exhibitions and a rich and varied
pedagogical programme for all publics.
The Orchestre National de Lorraine is administered and financially supported by a joint
association of the City of Metz and the Région Grand Est. The Ministry of Culture and
Communication also participates in its financing.