Franz André (b Brussels, 1893; d Brussels, 1975). Belg. violinist, conductor and composer. Played vn. in Belgian Radio Orch. 1923, then became its cond. Founder and mus. dir. Belg. Radio SO 1935–58. On staff Brussels Cons. 1920–44. Cond. f.ps. of several modern works, incl. 7th Sym. of Milhaud, 1955. The BRT (Belgian Radio and Television) Philharmonic Orchestra traces its roots back to the Belgian Radio Symphony Orchestra, which began broadcasting in Brussels in the 1930s. Under the baton of conductor Franz André, the orchestra built a reputation for performing twentieth century music. It gave the European premiere of Bartуk's "Concerto for Orchestra" and the Western European premiere of Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 4." The orchestra has been led by many notable conductors and composers, including Pierre Boulez, Paul Hindemith, Darius Milhaud, Lorin Maazel, and Zubin Mehta. In 1978, the national Radio Symphony Orchestra was dissolved and both the Flemish and the French divisions of Belgian Radio formed their own symphony orchestras. The Flemish network named the new orchestra the BRT Philharmonic. Fernand Terby served as its principal conductor from 1978 to 1988, when he was succeeded by Alexander Rahbari.
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony no 4 in F minor, Op. 36 Rec.: 1954 'Romeo and Juliet' Overture Rec.: 1955
Capriccio italien, Op. 45 Rec.: 1955
L' Orchestre Symphonique de la Radiodiffusion Nationale Belge
Franz André
| 
