Over the past six years, ‘Casco Phil – The Chamber Orchestra of Belgium’ has built up a strong reputation. In 2008, the Orchestra got off to a flying start at deSingel in Antwerp. Concerts then followed in places all over Belgium and the Netherlands. Under the Director of Music, Benjamin Haemhouts, our workshop is made up of a stable pool of about 39 musicians, which is expanded or reduced depending on the project.
Casco Phil wishes to reinterpret the concept of ‘orchestra’. We’re strengthening our basic premise, our ‘House of Music’ with concert series, projects for children and young talent, and projects with a social commitment. At the same time, our aim is to evolve into a music workshop where experiment in the broadest sense of the word, across all the art forms, is combined with the traditional practice so we can become a hotbed for emerging talent.The ‘orchestra’ as an institution can no longer be an obstacle to creativity: at the heart of our activities is the artistic idea. The form around this idea can change and also enhances it. By breaking open the traditional orchestral structure we force ourselves to seek out new creative boundaries. In its concert programmes, one can find adventurous, atypical combinations.
Besides, the orchestra gives talented young Belgian composers the opportunity to write new work for chamber orchestra under the supervision of a renowned composer. In addition to its on-going cycle of concerts, the Chamber Orchestra of Belgium also has a social mission. Trough Partnerships with the Community and with Kids, the Orchestra fulfils its obligation to bring underprivileged groups and children into contact with classical music.
Eyecatchers during the last seasons were its recording of Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony and Brittens Simple Symphony for Culture 7 TV channel and its collaboration with the Flemish Radio Choir and the Flemish Opera Children’s Choir in Fauré’s Requiem. In 2012 followed its successful début at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw; the concert resulted promptly in more invitations for the next seasons. In 2014, Casco Phil also has been invited at the Concertgebouw Bruges.
The Orchestra works with young and renowned soloists, such as pianist Boris Giltburg and violinist Yossif Ivanov (prize winners Queen Elisabeth Competition), clarinettist Annelien van Wauwe (prize winner ARD Competition), harpist Anneleen Lenaerts (Vienna Philharmonic), violonist Liza Ferschtman and the German Morgenstern Trio.
Casco Phil is a Creative, Adventurous, Socially engaged Cultural Organisation.
