YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN
Music Director Designate

Since his European conducting debut in 2004, Yannick Nézet-Séguin has become one of the most sought-after conductors on today’s international classical music scene, widely praised by audiences, critics, and artists alike for his musicianship, dedication, and charisma. A native of Montreal, he made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 2008 and last June was named the Orchestra’s next music director, a post he takes up with the 2012-13 season. Artistic director and principal conductor of Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain since 2000, he became music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic in 2008.

Recent engagements have included concerts with the Vienna and Los Angeles philharmonics, the Boston Symphony, the Dresden Staatskapelle, the Orchestre National de France and, earlier this month, a tour with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and his Berlin Philharmonic debut. This season also includes debuts with the Chicago Symphony, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra, and La Scala; Strauss’s Salome for Montreal Opera; Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in Baden-Baden; and Vienna Philharmonic projects at the 2011 Salzburg, Montreux, and Lucerne festivals. Following his Metropolitan Opera debut last season with Bizet’s Carmen, he returns next month for Verdi’s Don Carlo. Highlights in 2011-12 include his Royal Opera House, Covent Garden debut; a third production for Netherlands Opera; appearances in Vienna with both the Rotterdam and Vienna philharmonics; concerts with the Dresden Staatskapelle; and further recordings.

Mr. Nézet-Séguin’s Rotterdam Philharmonic recordings for EMI/Virgin comprise an Edison Award-winning disc of works by Ravel, Beethoven and Korngold violin concertos with Renaud Capuçon,and Fantasy: A Night at the Opera with flutist Emmanuel Pahud. Future releases include Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique and Death of Cleopatra for BIS Records. He has also recorded several award-winning albums with the Orchestre Métropolitain for ATMA Classique.

Mr. Nézet-Séguin studied piano, conducting, composition, and chamber music at Montreal’s Conservatoire de Musique and continued his studies with renowned conductors, most notably Carlo Maria Giulini. He also studied choral conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College. Mr. Nézet-Séguin’s honors include a Royal Philharmonic Society Award, an Echo Award, the Virginia-Parker Award from the Canada Council, and the National Arts Centre Award.