The two Paris-based ensembles are Orchestre National de France and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France

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France’s Court of Auditors (Cour des comptes) has recommended that the two orchestras of Radio France should merge due to financial constraints, according to reports in the French media.

A union between Orchestre National de France under music director Daniele Gatti (pictured) and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under music director Myung-Whun Chung has been mooted for some months. Last September, Radio France head Mathieu Gallet proposed a joint artistic director for the two symphony orchestras, but was forced to abandon the idea after a one-week musician strike.

The court, which conducts financial and legislative audits of France’s public bodies, makes a total of 18 recommendations in its latest report, including a suggested merger between radio stations France Inter, France Info and France Culture, which employ almost 300 broadcasting journalists between them.

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