Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

Switzerland

Birth

:

February 14, 1934 in Marsens, Switzerland

Genre

:

Choral

 

Michel Corboz is a renowned Swiss conductor and musicologist who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on February 14, 1934, in Marsens, Switzerland, and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a choir director, and his mother was a pianist. Corboz showed an early interest in music and began studying piano and organ at a young age. Corboz received his formal music education at the Conservatoire de Lausanne, where he studied piano, organ, and conducting. He later continued his studies at the Schola Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland, where he focused on choral conducting. In 1959, he founded the Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne, a choir that would become one of the most renowned in Europe. Throughout his career, Corboz has been known for his expertise in early music, particularly the works of J.S. Bach. He has conducted numerous performances of Bach's cantatas, passions, and other works, often with period instruments and historically informed performance practices. He has also conducted works by other composers, including Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. One of Corboz's most significant achievements was his work on the complete recording of Bach's sacred cantatas. This project, which began in the 1970s and spanned several years, involved recording all of Bach's cantatas with the Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne and other musicians. The recordings were released on the Erato label and received critical acclaim, earning Corboz a reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of Bach's music. Corboz has also been recognized for his work as a musicologist and scholar. He has written extensively on early music and has edited several volumes of Bach's cantatas. He has also served as a professor of musicology at the University of Lausanne and has given lectures and masterclasses around the world. Throughout his career, Corboz has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1983, he was awarded the Prix de la Fondation de France for his work on the complete recording of Bach's cantatas. He has also been awarded the Prix de la Ville de Lausanne and the Prix de la Fondation Vaudoise pour la Culture. Corboz has conducted performances with some of the world's leading orchestras and choirs, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. He has also collaborated with many renowned soloists, including Cecilia Bartoli, Andreas Scholl, and Philippe Jaroussky. In addition to his work as a conductor and musicologist, Corboz has also been active as a composer. He has written several works for choir and orchestra, including a setting of the Requiem Mass. Despite his many achievements, Corboz remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He has said that his goal as a conductor is to "serve the music" and to bring out the best in the performers he works with. His passion for music and his commitment to excellence have made him one of the most respected figures in the world of classical music.

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