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Founded: 1928 (as National Orchestra of Wales)

´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales occupies special roles as a national and a broadcasting orchestra, acclaimed not only for the quality of its performances but also for its importance as the only professional symphony orchestra in Wales. The Orchestra has won considerable critical and audience acclaim under its formidable conducting team led by principal conductor Thierry Fischer.

It is Orchestra-in-Residence at St David's Hall,Cardiff, and also presents a concert series at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. In addition to visiting venues across Wales and international touring commitments, the orchestra is in demand at major UK festivals and performs annually at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Proms.

As well as an outstanding ability to refresh core repertoire, the orchestra is proud of its adventurous programming and continuously demonstrates artistic excellence in new or rarely performed works. In summer 2008, Simon Holt took up the role of Composer-in-Association, a post previously held by Michael Berkeley, consolidating the ensemble's commitment to performing contemporary music.

The orchestra is based at its state-of-the-art recording and rehearsal base, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hoddinott Hall at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. It enjoys close working relationships with radio and television programmemakers, and has recorded the soundtracks to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales's Doctor Who and Torchwood series.

The orchestra also works closely with ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Chorus of Wales, one of the leading amateur mixed choruses in the UK and under the artistic direction of Adrian Partington.

Thierry Fischer
Principal Conductor

Thierry Fischer (b. 1957, Switzerland) took up his title with ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales in 2006. Known for a lightness of touch and transparency of texture in Bach, the Classical repertoire and early Romantics, the Second Viennese school, and the great French composers of the early 20th century, he is a keen advocate of his compatriots Martin and Honegger and has a particular feel for the music of Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Shostakovich.Originally a flautist, he is also chief conductor of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan, and the Utah Symphony.

Tadaaki Otaka
Conductor Laureate

Tadaaki Otaka (b.1947, Japan) was appointed conductor laureate of ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales in 1995, following his tenure as Principal Conductor (1987-95). One of Japan's leading conductors, his activities include concerts, opera performances and radio and television broadcasts, as well as premieres of works by a diverse range of composers. He was appointed CBE in 1997 and was the first Japanese recipient of the Elgar Medal in 1999.

François-Xavier Roth
Associate Guest Conductor

François-Xavier Roth (b. 1971, France) is one of the most charismatic and enterprising conductors of his generation. He started his three-year term as associate guest conductor of ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales in 2008. He is associate conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and principal guest conductor of the Navarra Symphony Orchestra. In 2003 he founded Les Siècles, an innovative orchestra which uses a large ensemble of instruments from all periods and which was awarded a Diapason Découverte in 2007 for its CD of Bizet and Chabrier.

Jac van Steen
Principal Guest Conductor

Jac van Steen (b. 1956, The Netherlands) began his relationship with ´óÏó´«Ã½ orchestras began in 1985 and in August 2005 he marked the formal start of his appointment as principal guest conductor by conducting the ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Proms. Matching the breadth of repertoire in which he excels, he has had a wide range of important posts with European orchestras and opera companies including, currently, general musical director of the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra.