Royal Flemish Philharmonic

Koninklijke Filharmonie van Vlaanderen, also known as deFilharmonie, is a Belgian symphony orchestra based in Antwerp, renamed to Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in April 2017. It was established as Antwerpse Philharmonie in 1956 by a producer Gaston Ariën, who assembled a group of musicians to stage George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in Belgium. Jef Maes, Steve Candael, and Johan Adriaan Zwijsen were co-founders of the ensemble. The debut performance took place on December 10, 1956. DeFilharmonie regularly performs at several venues around Belgium, including Queen Elisabeth Hall, deSingel, Palais Des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Muziekcentrum De Bijloke and Concertgebouw, Brugge. Chief Conductors Eduard Flipse (1961–70) Enrique Jordá (1970–75) André Vandernoot (1975–83) Emil Tchakarov (1983–86) Günter Neuhold (1986–91) Muhai Tang (1991–95) Grant Llewellyn (1995–98) Philippe Herreweghe (1998–2002) Daniele Callegari (2) (2002–08) Jaap van Zweden (2008–11) Edo de Waart (since 2011)