Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, CC (French pronunciation: ​[ja.nik ne.zɛ se.ɡɛ̃]; born Yannick Séguin;[1] 6 March 1975) is a Canadian conductor and pianist. He is currently music director of the Orchestre Métropolitain (Montréal), the Metropolitan Opera, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was also principal conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008 to 2018.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

CC
Nézet-Séguin at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, 18 June 2010
Born
Yannick Séguin

(1975-03-06) 6 March 1975
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupationconductor, pianist
Years active1994–present
Partner(s)Pierre Tourville

Biography

Early years

Nézet-Séguin was born in Montreal on 6 March 1975 to two specialists in education, Serge P. Séguin, PhD, a university professor, and Claudine Nézet, M.A., a university lecturer and coordinator.[1] He began to study piano at age five, with Jeanne-d'Arc Lebrun-Lussier, and decided to become an orchestra conductor at age ten.[2]

Nézet-Séguin studied successively at St-Isaac-Jogues Primary School, at Collège Mont-Saint-Louis Secondary School and at Bois-de-Boulogne College. In the meantime, he was admitted to Anisia Campos's piano class, at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec where he earned five first prizes in piano and in four related musical subjects. He also studied choral conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and did many master classes with renowned conductors (George Benjamin, Roberto Carnevale, Daniele Gatti).

Early career

At 19, he met and was invited to follow Carlo Maria Giulini in rehearsals and concerts for more than a year. He became the musical director of the Chœur polyphonique de Montréal in 1994 and obtained the same post at Choeur de Laval in 1995. In 1995, he founded his own professional orchestral and vocal ensemble, La Chapelle de Montréal, with whom he performed two to four concerts a year until 2002. He considers Charles Dutoit as his first inspiration as a child and Carlo Maria Giulini as his master.[3] From 1998 to 2002, Nézet-Séguin was chorus master, assistant conductor and music adviser of the Opéra de Montréal.

Orchestre Métropolitain

Nézet-Séguin became music director of the Orchestre Métropolitain (Montréal) in 2000, and principal guest conductor of the Victoria Symphony (British Columbia, Canada) in 2003. His most recent contract with the Orchestre Métropolitain, through 2010,[4] has since been extended through 2015.[5] In September 2015, the orchestra announced a further extension of his contract through the 2020–21 season.[6] In September 2019, the orchestra announced its contract with Nézet-Séguin as a lifetime contract.[7] He has conducted commercial recordings of symphonies of Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler with the Orchestre Métropolitain.[8]

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

In 2005, Nézet-Séguin guest-conducted the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (RPhO) for the first time, and returned in 2006. In December 2006, the RPhO announced the appointment of Nézet-Séguin as their 11th Principal Conductor, by a unanimous vote, starting with the 2008–09 concert season,[9] with an initial contract of 4 years. In April 2010, the RPhO announced the extension of his contract through 2015.[10] With the RPhO, Nézet-Séguin has recorded commercially for Virgin Classics[11] and for EMI.[12] In June 2013, the RPhO further extended his contract through the summer of 2018.[13] In May 2015, the RPhO announced the conclusion of Nézet-Séguin's tenure as RPhO principal conductor at the end of the 2017–2018 season.[14] He now has the title of Eredirigent (honorary conductor) of the RPhO.

Philadelphia Orchestra

In December 2008, Nézet-Séguin made his first appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra, at the invitation of Charles Dutoit.[15] He returned for a second guest-conducting engagement in December 2009.[16] In June 2010, he was named the eighth Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, starting with the 2012–13 season. He served as Music Director Designate from 2010 to 2012. His initial contract as music director was for 5 seasons, with 7 weeks of scheduled concerts in the 2012–13 season, 15 weeks in the next 2 seasons, and 16 weeks in the subsequent 2 seasons of his Philadelphia contract.[17] In January 2015, the orchestra announced a five-year extension of Nézet-Séguin's contract to the 2021–2022 season.[18][19] In June 2016, the orchestra announced a further extension of his contract, through the 2025–26 season.[20]

The Metropolitan Opera

Nézet-Séguin began annual appearances with the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 2009, making his début on 31 December 2009, conducting a new production of Carmen.[21] There followed Don Carlo in 2010 and in 2015, Faust in 2011,[22] La traviata in 2013,[23] and Rusalka in 2014.[24] He opened the Met's 2015–16 Season in September 2015 conducting a new production of Verdi's Otello,[25] and returned in 2017 to conduct Der fliegende Holländer. On 2 June 2016, the Metropolitan Opera announced the appointment of Nézet-Séguin as the next music director, effective with the 2020–2021 season, with an initial contract of four years.[26] He took the title of music director-designate as of the 2017–18 season. In February 2018, the company announced that Nézet-Séguin would take the title of music director two years early, as of the 2018–2019 season,[27] following the Met's termination of James Levine for sexual misconduct.

Other major engagements

Nézet-Séguin made his UK conducting debut with the Northern Sinfonia in the 2005–06 season. He debuted with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) in March 2007, and with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in April 2007.[28] In November 2007, the LPO appointed Nézet-Séguin as their principal guest conductor, starting with the 2008–09 season.[29] Following a May 2010 extension of his contract as LPO principal guest conductor,[30] he stood down from the post in 2014.[31][32] He made his Royal Opera House debut with Rusalka, the first stagings of the opera at Covent Garden, in 2012. He is also an honorary member and guest conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Personal life

Nézet-Séguin resides in Montreal and Philadelphia with his partner Pierre Tourville, a violist in the Orchestre Métropolitain.[33] He has multiple pets, and has made a playlist on Spotify and Apple music for pets to listen to.

Honours
  • Virginia Parker Prize (2000)
  • Prix Opus (2005)
  • Royal Philharmonic Society Young artists (2009)[34]
  • National Arts Centre Award, a companion award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards (2010)
  • Doctorate honoris causa, UQAM (2011)
  • Prix Denise-Pelletier, Government of the Province of Quebec (2011)
  • Companion of the Order of Canada (2012)
  • Doctorate honoris causa in music, McGill University, Montreal (2017)

Discography

Orchestral works

Vocal recitals

Operas

Operas on video
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See also

References
  1. David Patrick Stearns, "Nezet-Seguin signs Philadelphia Orchestra contract". The Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 June 2010.
  2. Joyce Morgan (27 June 2007). "Young conductor will reply in kind". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  3. Peter Dobrin, "Philadelphia Orchestra director taking baton of a mentor". The Philadelphia Inquirer, 20 June 2010.
  4. David Patrick Stearns, "Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads two orchestras in Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in Ottawa". The Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 June 2010.
  5. "Yannick Nézet-Séguin shines again: The young conductor is named Musical Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra" (Press release). Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  6. "Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain renew through 2020–2021" (Press release). Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  7. Robert Rowat (16 September 2019). "Yannick Nézet-Séguin has renewed his contract with Montreal's Orchestre Métropolitain – for life". CBC. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  8. David Patrick Stearns, "Nézet-Séguin's 17 recordings offer variety". The Philadelphia Inquirer, 20 June 2010.
  9. Vivien Schweitzer (13 December 2006). "Yannick Nézet-Séguin to Succeed Valery Gergiev at Rotterdam Philharmonic". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  10. Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, "Yannick verlengt contract" (webpage press release), 23 April 2010.
  11. Andrew Clements (15 October 2009). "Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Korngold: Violin Concerto; Capuçon/Rotterdam PO/Nézet-Séguin (Virgin Classics)". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  12. Nicholas Kenyon (31 January 2010). "Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé Suite No 2". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  13. "Yannick Nézet-Séguin verlengt contract bij Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest" (Press release). Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  14. "Yannick Nézet-Séguin in 2018 verder als ere-dirigent" (Press release). Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  15. Arthur Kaptainis (10 November 2007). "Dutch treat". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  16. Robert Zaller (8 December 2009). "Conductor shortage? Where?". Broad Street Review. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  17. Peter Dobrin, "Canada's 'rising star' to be Phila. maestro". The Philadelphia Inquirer, 14 June 2010.
  18. "Yannick Nézet-Séguin Extends Tenure as Music Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra through 2021–2022 Season" (Press release). Philadelphia Orchestra. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  19. Peter Dobrin (30 January 2015). "Philadelphia Orchestra prepares for a big ask". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  20. Philadelphia Orchestra (2 June 2016). "Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin Makes Renewed Commitment to The Philadelphia Orchestra, Extending Tenure through 2025–2026 Season". Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  21. Anthony Tommasini (1 January 2010). "That Daring Gypsy Strikes Again, and Anew". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  22. Anthony Tommasini (23 November 2010). "A Winning, Cautious 'Don Carlo' at the Met". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  23. Zachary Woolfe (17 March 2013). "Start With Adolescent Spirit, Then Grow into a Role". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  24. Zachary Woolfe (24 January 2014). "When It Comes to Nymphs and Princes, Water and Earth Don't Mix". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  25. "Review: Metropolitan Opera's New 'Otello,' Bold and Tentative". The New York Times. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  26. Smith, Jennifer. "Met Opera Names Yannick Nézet-Séguin as New Music Director". The Wall Street Journal. Down Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  27. Michael Cooper (15 February 2018). "Yannick Nézet-Séguin Will Lead the Met Opera, Two Years Early". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  28. Rowena Smith (23 April 2007). "SCO/Nézet-Séguin". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  29. Kevin Shihoten (20 November 2007). "Nézet-Séguin Named London Phil Principal Guest Conductor". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
  30. "London Philharmonic Orchestra extends contracts with Vladimir Jurowski and Yannick Nézet-Séguin" (Press release). London Philharmonic Orchestra. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  31. "London Philharmonic Orchestra appoints Andrés Orozco-Estrada as new Principal Guest Conductor" (Press release). London Philharmonic Orchestra. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  32. Imogen Tilden (15 January 2014). "Orozco-Estrada named as LPO's new principal guest conductor". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  33. Daniel J Wakin (3 June 2016). "Maestro with the Turtle Tattoo". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  34. Tom Service (15 October 2009). "Yannick Nézet-Séguin: 'I had a dream, and that dream came true'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
Cultural offices
Preceded by
Joseph Rescigno		 Principal Conductor and Artistic Director, Orchestre Métropolitain
2000–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
Valery Gergiev		 Principal Conductor, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
2008–2018		 Succeeded by
Lahav Shani
Preceded by
James Levine		 Music Director, Metropolitan Opera
2018–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
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