Role

:

Conductor Performer

Birth

:

March 6, 1962 in Paris, France

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Laurence Equilbey is a French conductor and music director who has made a significant impact on the classical music world. Born on September 6, 1962, in Colombes, France, Equilbey grew up in a family of music lovers. Her father was a jazz musician, and her mother was a music teacher. Equilbey began playing the piano at a young age and later studied musicology at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Equilbey's interest in conducting began when she was a student at the Conservatoire de Paris. She was inspired by the conducting classes of Jean-Sébastien Béreau and later studied with Eric Ericson in Stockholm. Equilbey's talent and dedication to her craft quickly became apparent, and she was soon conducting major orchestras and ensembles throughout Europe. One of Equilbey's early successes was her appointment as the music director of the Orchestre National de Lyon in 1991. She held this position for five years and helped to establish the orchestra as one of the leading ensembles in France. During her tenure, Equilbey conducted numerous concerts and recordings, including a critically acclaimed performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. In 1998, Equilbey founded the chamber choir Accentus, which quickly gained a reputation for its innovative programming and high-quality performances. The choir has since become one of the most respected ensembles in Europe, and Equilbey has led it in performances at major festivals and concert halls around the world. Equilbey's career has been marked by numerous highlights and achievements. In 2006, she was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in recognition of her contributions to the arts. She has also been awarded the Prix Liliane Bettencourt pour le chant choral and the Prix de la Fondation Simone et Cino Del Duca. One of Equilbey's most notable achievements was her appointment as the first female conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in 2016. This was a significant milestone for Equilbey and for women in classical music, as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest and most prestigious orchestras in the world. Equilbey's repertoire is diverse and includes works from the classical, romantic, and contemporary periods. She is particularly known for her interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, as well as her advocacy for contemporary composers. Equilbey has commissioned and premiered numerous works by living composers, including Pascal Dusapin, Kaija Saariaho, and Thierry Escaich. Equilbey's conducting style is characterized by her attention to detail and her ability to bring out the nuances and subtleties of a piece of music. She is known for her clear and precise gestures, which allow her to communicate her musical vision to the orchestra or choir she is conducting. Equilbey's recordings have received critical acclaim and have won numerous awards. Her recording of Mozart's Requiem with Accentus and the Insula Orchestra was awarded the Diapason d'Or de l'Année in 2014, and her recording of Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem with the same ensemble was awarded the Choc de Classica in 2017. In addition to her work as a conductor, Equilbey is also a passionate advocate for music education. She has worked with numerous youth orchestras and choirs and has been involved in educational programs in France and abroad. Equilbey believes that music has the power to bring people together and to inspire creativity and innovation.

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