Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

October 4, 1940 in Paris, France

Genre

:

Opera

 

Alain Lombard is a renowned French conductor and pianist who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on October 7, 1940, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Lombard grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a conductor, and his mother was a pianist. Lombard started playing the piano at a young age and showed a keen interest in music. Lombard's musical education began at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied piano and conducting. He was a brilliant student and won several awards for his performances. In 1961, Lombard made his debut as a conductor with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. He was only 21 years old at the time, but his talent was evident, and he quickly gained recognition as a rising star in the world of classical music. In 1965, Lombard was appointed as the principal conductor of the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. This was a significant milestone in his career, and he quickly established himself as one of the leading conductors in France. Lombard's tenure with the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra lasted for 16 years, during which he conducted numerous performances and recordings. One of Lombard's most significant achievements during his time with the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra was his collaboration with the composer Olivier Messiaen. Lombard conducted the premiere of Messiaen's opera "Saint François d'Assise" in 1983, which was a critical and commercial success. Lombard's interpretation of the opera was widely praised, and it cemented his reputation as a conductor of contemporary music. In 1981, Lombard was appointed as the principal conductor of the Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestra. He held this position for 10 years and conducted numerous performances and recordings with the orchestra. Lombard's tenure with the Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestra was marked by his commitment to promoting French music and his collaborations with contemporary composers. Lombard's international career took off in the 1980s, and he conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. Lombard's performances were characterized by his precision, clarity, and sensitivity to the music. He was known for his ability to bring out the best in the musicians he worked with and for his innovative interpretations of classical works. One of Lombard's most significant achievements was his appointment as the principal conductor of the Paris Opera in 1986. This was a prestigious position, and Lombard was the first French conductor to hold it in over 20 years. Lombard's tenure with the Paris Opera was marked by his commitment to promoting French opera and his collaborations with leading directors and designers. Lombard's tenure with the Paris Opera was not without controversy, however. In 1989, he was involved in a dispute with the management of the opera over the production of Wagner's "Ring" cycle. Lombard believed that the production was too expensive and that it would bankrupt the opera. The dispute led to Lombard's resignation from the Paris Opera in 1990. Despite this setback, Lombard continued to conduct and record extensively throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He conducted many of the world's leading orchestras and collaborated with some of the most prominent soloists of his time.

More....