Orchestras Canada

Last Sunday, the Philadelphia Orchestra announced the appointment of its eighth music director, Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Maestro Nézet-Séguin, currently music director of both Orchestre Métropolitain du grand Montréal and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, and Principal Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic, will formally assume music director duties with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2012.

As reported by Peter Dobrin in the Philadelphia Inquirer, “With his datebook already crowded, Nézet-Séguin’s arrival in Philadelphia will come in phases. In 2010-11, as music-director-designate, he will conduct two weeks here. In 2011-12, the number of weeks will increase to five. In his first season as music director, 2012-2013, Nézet-Séguin will lead up to seven weeks of concerts. In his second and third seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15) he will conduct 15 weeks. He will conduct 16 weeks of concerts in his fourth and fifth seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17). His responsibilities will include subscription concerts, special events, tours and summer appearances.”

At the same time, however, Maestro Nézet-Séguin has been quick to confirm his loyalty to the Orchestre Métropolitain, noting that his contract with the orchestra has been renewed until 2015 “at least” and that he looks forward to future concerts. “To make music with the musicians in Orchestre Métropolitain never ceases to stimulate and nourish me,” he noted.

For more on the appointment, you can visit the websites of
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Orchestre Métropolitain

We’ve had a few more announcements about summer concerts this week, which we’re happy to share with you! And if you are planning summer events – please let us know. Simply send your media releases to info@oc.ca

Orchestre Métropolitain du grand Montréal has announced its summer concerts, six performances of two programs celebrating the human voice. The orchestra’s music director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, will lead an all-star Canadian cast in two concert performances of Mozart‘s Don Giovanni (June 30 and July 4), and guest conductor Alain Trudel will take the helm for four performances focused on French operatic repertoire, featuring Marianne Fiset and Marc Hervieux. For more information, you can visit the orchestra’s website here.

The National Youth Orchestra of Canada has released its tour dates for its 50th anniversary season. The University of Western Ontario is the site for this year’s training program, and the orchestra opens its tour (under the leadership of Jacques Lacombe) in London on July 24, and finishes in Edmonton on August 14. In between, the group will perform in a number of other communities in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia – with a highlight possibly being their performance with tenor Ben Heppner in Stratford on July 25.  You can visit the orchestra’s website here.

The Guelph Symphony Orchestra is presenting its 7th Annual – and free! – Concert in the Park on June 27 at Guelph’s Riverside Park Bandshell. The program, led by GSO music director Simon Irving, is entitled An Afternoon at the Proms, and will feature orchestra members in traditional light British music. For more information about the GSO, you can visit their website here.

The Orchestre metropolitain du Grand Montreal has just launched its 30th anniversary season:  seven rich programs, presented in a number of different venues throughout Montreal, and many featuring the group’s increasingly-busy music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin.  The season features two premieres by Denys Bouliane and Eric Champagne.  For more information, please visit here.