A Canadian pianist and conductor, he has been the Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera since 2018.
Born in Montreal to university professors, he began studying piano at the age of five and decided to become a conductor at ten. He graduated from the Quebec Conservatory in piano, where he won five first prizes in various competitions, and studied choral conducting at Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, USA. He participated in master classes with many famous conductors. At 19, he met the eminent conductor Carlo Maria Giulini and studied with him for a year. In 1994, he became the Music Director of the Montreal Polyphonic Choir, and in 1995, of the Laval Choir. From 1998 to 2002, he was Chorus Master, Assistant Conductor, and Music Consultant for the Opéra de Montréal.
In 1995, he founded his own ensemble and choir, the "Montreal Chapel," with which he performed until 2002. In 2000, he became the Music Director of the Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal and still holds this position. With this ensemble, he has recorded symphonies by Bruckner and Mahler.
In 2005, he made his debut with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as its Principal Conductor from 2006 to 2018. He first performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2008, becoming its Music Director in 2010.
From 2005 to 2006, he conducted the British orchestra "Northern Sinfonia." In 2007, he conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. From 2008 to 2014, he was the Principal Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2012, he made his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with the opera "Rusalka."
Since 2009, he has been a guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, becoming its Music Director in 2018. He has conducted operas including "Carmen," "Otello," "Faust," "The Flying Dutchman," "Don Carlos," "La Traviata," "Rusalka," "Pelléas et Mélisande," and others.
He is a Member of the Order of Canada, holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Quebec, and is a laureate of the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award (2009).
Born in Montreal to university professors, he began studying piano at the age of five and decided to become a conductor at ten. He graduated from the Quebec Conservatory in piano, where he won five first prizes in various competitions, and studied choral conducting at Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, USA. He participated in master classes with many famous conductors. At 19, he met the eminent conductor Carlo Maria Giulini and studied with him for a year. In 1994, he became the Music Director of the Montreal Polyphonic Choir, and in 1995, of the Laval Choir. From 1998 to 2002, he was Chorus Master, Assistant Conductor, and Music Consultant for the Opéra de Montréal.
In 1995, he founded his own ensemble and choir, the "Montreal Chapel," with which he performed until 2002. In 2000, he became the Music Director of the Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal and still holds this position. With this ensemble, he has recorded symphonies by Bruckner and Mahler.
In 2005, he made his debut with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as its Principal Conductor from 2006 to 2018. He first performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2008, becoming its Music Director in 2010.
From 2005 to 2006, he conducted the British orchestra "Northern Sinfonia." In 2007, he conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. From 2008 to 2014, he was the Principal Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2012, he made his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with the opera "Rusalka."
Since 2009, he has been a guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, becoming its Music Director in 2018. He has conducted operas including "Carmen," "Otello," "Faust," "The Flying Dutchman," "Don Carlos," "La Traviata," "Rusalka," "Pelléas et Mélisande," and others.
He is a Member of the Order of Canada, holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Quebec, and is a laureate of the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award (2009).
