Michael Schønwandt's relationship with the city of Brussels dates back to the 1980s, when he was Principal Guest Conductor at La Monnaie for several years. In 1990, he made his debut with the Belgian National Orchestra, and after numerous concerts as a guest conductor, he was appointed associate conductor of the orchestra last season. Outside Belgium, Michael Schønwandt is known as the man who conducted the Royal Danish Orchestra (Copenhagen Opera Orchestra) for no less than 11 years. He has also conducted the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester, the Dutch Radio Chamber Orchestra, the Beethovenhalle Bonn and, as Principal Conductor from 2015 to 2021, the Opéra de Montpellier. This season, he conducts the opening production of the Opéra national de Paris, Falstaff, with Ambrogio Maestri in the title role.