The Brussels Philharmonic won the Golden Globe for the best motion picture score. This award is the most prestigious in the film industry after the Oscars. The ensemble, originally titled the Flemish Radio Orchestra, won the award for Ludovic Bource’s soundtrack for the silent film The Artist. After the ensemble received international recognition for Howard Shore's score for The Aviator, they focused on performing and recording soundtracks, standing their ground against competitors from London and former East Block countries, says the intendant Gunther Broucke who hopes to extend the ensemble’s activities in the film industry.

What made the soundtrack for The Artist so exceptional was that it was composed and performed for a silent movie which makes its role much more prominent than in a talking film; almost like the voice of one of the actors, Broucke believes. What makes it even more remarkable and unique is that it left the typical Hollywood box of tricks untouched to obtain the dramatic effects. Thanks to the Ghent Film Festival, with its focus on film soundtracks, the ensemble has managed to build up a considerable network and film composers started to like their work. Still working for the film industry requires a new organisation. Says Broucke: “We have often had to decline offers, as the structure of a traditional orchestra does not always fit in with the workings of the film industry,where everything has to be rushed within a matter of two to three months. We are currently in talks with the government of Flanders to create a spin-off company that could operate under the working title Brussels 'Film'harmonic. This business will then commission the orchestra for specific productions and will be able to sign agreements for technical support.”

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