Philippe Herreweghe
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Philippe Herreweghe, born in Ghent, studied both piano and medicine, and founded the ensemble Collegium Vocale Gent in 1970. His innovative interpretations of Baroque music drew the attention of Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Gustav Leonhardt, who invited him to collaborate on the recording of Bach’s complete cantatas.
In 1977, he founded La Chapelle Royale in Paris, dedicated to French Baroque repertoire. He later established ensembles such as the Orchestre des Champs Élysées, performing pre-Romantic and Romantic works on period instruments.
Herreweghe has built an impressive international career, conducting a wide range of repertoire from the Baroque to the 20th century. He has worked with leading orchestras such as the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, and the Cleveland Orchestra, and has been closely associated with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra since 1997.
His discography includes over 120 recordings, featuring works by Bach, Beethoven, Mahler, and Stravinsky. In 2010, he founded his own label, φ (PHI).
Herreweghe has received numerous distinctions, including the Bach Medal (Leipzig), the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, and honorary doctorates from the University of Ghent and the Catholic University of Leuven.
