L’Orchestre Symphonique National du Liban (The Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra) was founded in late 1999 in

Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...

under the guidance of Dr.

Walid Gholmieh Walid Georges Gholmieh ( ar, وليد جرجس غلمية; 1938 – 7 June 2011) was the director of the '' Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique'' or The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music. He was considered one of ...

and the management of the

Conservatoire Libanais Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique or The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music was founded in the 1930s by Wadia Sabra, composer of the national anthem of Lebanon. Sabra's goal was to establish an institute of highe ...

(Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music). In a few years, the Orchestra has proven itself both locally and regionally and gained great success. It gives 25 to 30 concerts per season at the church of the

Saint Joseph University Saint Joseph University of Beirut ( French: ''Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth'', abbreviated to and commonly known as "USJ") is a private Catholic research university located in Beirut, Lebanon, which was founded in 1875 by French Jesuit mis ...

and in other cities, playing a varied international repertoire by world-renowned classical music composers. The Orchestra played host to well-known soloists such as the Polish guitarist Vladimir Gromolak, Dutch violinist Werther Vosn, tenor

Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...

, composer and soprano

Hiba Al Kawas Hiba Al Kawas ( ar, هبة القواس; born 17 July 1972) is a Lebanese operatic soprano, composer, and academic. Career Composer Hiba Al Kawas has recorded 21 works of her own composition with the Dnepropetrovsk Symphony Orchestra-Ukraine un ...

, Spanish guitarist

José María Gallardo Del Rey José María Gallardo del Rey (born 18 May 1961) is a Spanish musician, guitarist and composer. He has received international awards, both as a performer and for his compositions. Career Born in Seville, Spain, Gallardo del Rey started his caree ...

, Lebanese violinist Zareh Tcheroyan, the Polish pianist Radivonovitch and the

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese pianist

Atsuko Seta (born March 4, 1955, in Osaka) is a Japanese classical pianist. She is particularly successful in Poland, especially in the southwest of the country, regularly performing with the Sudeten Philharmonic Orchestra in Walbrzych and in her native Ja ...

. The Orchestra has accompanied the

Prague Chamber Choir The Prague Chamber Choir (''Pražský komorní sbor'') is a Czech choir founded in Prague in 1990 by singers of the Prague Philharmonic Choir. It has performed concerts in Australia, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Lebanon and many European countries (e.g. ...

Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards f ...

Stabat Mater The Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Christian hymn to Mary, which portrays her suffering as Jesus Christ's mother during his crucifixion. Its author may be either the Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi or Pope Innocent III.Sabatier, Paul ''Life o ...

. The Orchestra has participated in the programs of the Al Bustan Winter Festival in

Beit Mery Beit Mery ( ar, بيت مري ; also Beit Mer, Beir Meri) is a Lebanese town overlooking the capital Beirut. The town has been a summer mountain resort since the times of the Phoenicians and later the Romans. The name derives from Aramaic and me ...

and the

Baalbeck International Festival The Baalbeck International Festival ( ar, مهرجانات بعلبك الدولية, french: Festival International de Baalbeck) is a cultural event in Lebanon. Since 1955, people from around the world have gone to the city of Baalbek in the Beqaa ...

. They were also featured on an unreleased track by the band

Gorillaz Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, ...

named "Whirlwind", from their third studio album ''

Plastic Beach ''Plastic Beach'' is the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz. It was released on 3 March 2010 by Parlophone internationally and by Virgin Records in the United States. Conceived from an unfinished project called ''Carousel'', th ...

'', but which was cut from it before its release.Pitchfork - Listen: Gorillaz: "Whirlwind"
/ref> The

Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music The Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music was a Syrian orchestra dedicated to the performance of classical Arabic music, as well as experimental work based on traditional music from the Middle East. The orchestra played regular concerts in the ...

was also featured on the album, on the song "White Flag".

References

{{authority control Lebanese orchestras National orchestras Musical groups established in 1999 1999 establishments in Lebanon