Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Normandie

**Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Normandie** is a vibrant French symphony orchestra based in Rouen, Normandy, kicking off in 1998 with around 40 permanent musicians who team up with extras for big productions. Born from the ashes of the old Théâtre des Arts setup, which shut down in '97, it became part of the Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie (later Normandie) and has rocked stages from local spots to Paris's Philharmonie and even New York, mixing opera pit duties with symphonic concerts and chamber gigs.

These days, it's merged with the Orchestre Régional de Normandie since September 2024, boasting 58 dedicated players who dive into everything from Baroque on gut strings and natural brass to fresh contemporary works. They've had cool leaders like Oswald Sallaberger (1998-2010), Luciano Acocella, Leo Hussain, Ben Glassberg (2020-2026), and Pierre Dumoussaud coming in 2026—performing hits like Wagner's *Der Fliegende Holländer*, Britten's *Curlew River*, and recent releases such as Mozart's *La clemenza di Tito* and Saint-Saëns' *Phryné*. Always up for innovation, they're the first French orchestra to switch between period and modern instruments, spreading over 100 concerts across Normandy each season.