Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestre

The Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire (French pronunciation: [ɔʁkɛstʁ la sɔsjete de kɔ̃sɛʁ dy kɔ̃sɛʁvatwaʁ]) was a symphony orchestra established in Paris in 1828. It gave its first concert on 9 March 1828 with music by Beethoven, Rossini, Meifreid, Rode and Cherubini.

Administered by the philharmonic association of the Conservatoire de Paris, the orchestra consisted of professors of the Conservatoire and their pupils. It was formed by François-Antoine Habeneck in pioneering fashion, aiming to present Beethoven's symphonies, but over time it became more conservative in its programming.

Its long existence kept the tradition of playing taught at the Conservatoire prominent in French musical life. The orchestra occupied the center-stage of French musical life throughout the 19th and most of the 20th centuries. A major tour of the US took place in 1918, appearing in 52 cities. Later that year it made the first of its many recordings.

In 1967, financial difficulties, along with irregular work for the players and poor pay led to a decision by the French government to form a new orchestra. Following auditions chaired by Charles Munch, 108 musicians were chosen (of whom 50 were from the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra) for the newly created Orchestre de Paris, which gave its first concert on 14 November 1967 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

The chief conductors of the orchestra were:

  • François-Antoine Habeneck 1828–1848
  • Narcisse Girard 1848–1860
  • Théophile Tilmant 1860–1863
  • François George-Hainl 1863–1872
  • Édouard Deldevez 1872–1885
  • Jules Garcin 1885–1892
  • Paul Taffanel 1892–1901
  • Georges Marty 1901–1908
  • André Messager 1908–1919
  • Philippe Gaubert 1919–1938
  • Charles Munch 1938–1946
  • André Cluytens 1946–1960

No principal conductor was appointed during the orchestra's final years 1960–1967.

Notable premieres given by the orchestra include Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique, Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No. 1, and Franck's Symphony in D minor.

The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra also made the first recording of Debussy's La mer with conductor Piero Coppola in 1928.

Birth and Death Data: Died Ceased 1967

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1918 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 101-122 of 122 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia (U.K.) WLX629 12-in. 11/12/1928 Proposition d'achèvement de la symphonie inachevée de Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX630 12-in. 11/12/1928 Proposition d'achèvement de la symphonie inachevée de Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX631 12-in. 11/12/1928 Proposition d'achèvement de la symphonie inachevée de Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX636 12-in. 11/13/1928 Hommage à Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX637 12-in. 11/13/1928 Hommage à Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX651 12-in. 12/4/1928 Hommage à Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX652 12-in. 12/14/1928 Hommage à Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX694 12-in. 12/12/1928 Hommage à Schubert Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX768 12-in. 12/15/1928 Lohengrin : Act III, duo Marise Beaujon ; Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire ; Paris Conservatory Symphony Orchestra ; Georges Thill Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX987 12-in. 4/12/1929 Aux étoiles Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX1938 12-in. 10/11/1936 L'apprenti sorcier, 1re partie Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX1939 12-in. 10/11/1936 L'apprenti sorcier, 2e partie Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX1940 12-in. 10/11/1936 L'apprenti sorcier, 3e partie Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX1945 12-in. 1/15/1937 Nocturne no. 5 Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2167 12-in. 5/12/1939 Prélude du 3e acte Roland Lamorlette ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire ; Felix Weingartner Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2168 12-in. 5/12/1939 Prélude du 3e acte Roland Lamorlette ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire ; Felix Weingartner Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2215 12-in. 4/19/1941 Concerto N° 1 en si bémol mineur, op. 23 pour piano et orchestre Kostia Konstantinoff ; Charles Munch ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Piano, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2216 12-in. 4/19/1941 Concerto N° 1 en si bémol mineur, op. 23 pour piano et orchestre Kostia Konstantinoff ; Charles Munch ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Piano, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2217 12-in. 4/19/1941 Concerto N° 1 en si bémol mineur, op. 23 pour piano et orchestre Kostia Konstantinoff ; Charles Munch ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Piano, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2218 12-in. 4/19/1941 Concerto N° 1 en si bémol mineur, op. 23 pour piano et orchestre Kostia Konstantinoff ; Charles Munch ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Piano, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2219 12-in. 4/21/1941 Concerto N° 1 en si bémol mineur, op. 23 pour piano et orchestre Kostia Konstantinoff ; Charles Munch ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Piano, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) CLX2220 12-in. 4/21/1941 Concerto N° 1 en si bémol mineur, op. 23 pour piano et orchestre Kostia Konstantinoff ; Charles Munch ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Piano, with orchestra Musical group  
(Results 101-122 of 122 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestre," accessed January 8, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103968.

Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestre. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 8, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103968.

"Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestre." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 8 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103968

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