Role

:

Conductor  

Birth

:

1959

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Pierre-Andre Valade is a renowned French conductor and composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on June 2, 1959, in Toulouse, France, Valade showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano at the age of six. He later went on to study composition and conducting at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Valade's career as a conductor began in the early 1980s when he was appointed as the assistant conductor of the Orchestre National de France. He quickly gained recognition for his talent and was soon invited to conduct other major orchestras in France and across Europe. In 1987, he was appointed as the principal conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, a position he held for six years. Throughout his career, Valade has been known for his innovative programming and his commitment to contemporary music. He has conducted numerous world premieres of works by leading composers such as Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and György Ligeti. He has also been a champion of lesser-known composers, particularly those from his native France. One of Valade's most significant achievements as a conductor was his tenure as the artistic director of the Ensemble Intercontemporain, a Paris-based chamber orchestra dedicated to contemporary music. He held this position from 1998 to 2003 and was responsible for programming and conducting many of the ensemble's concerts and recordings. During his time with the Ensemble Intercontemporain, Valade worked closely with Boulez, one of the most influential composers and conductors of the 20th century. Valade has also been active as a composer, with a particular focus on electroacoustic music. His works have been performed at major festivals and venues around the world, including the Donaueschingen Festival, the Venice Biennale, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In addition to his work as a conductor and composer, Valade has been a dedicated educator. He has taught conducting and contemporary music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and has been a guest lecturer at universities and conservatories around the world. Valade's career has been marked by numerous highlights and accolades. In 1992, he was awarded the Prix de la Fondation Simone et Cino Del Duca, one of the most prestigious awards for the arts in France. He has also been awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, two of the highest honors for cultural achievement in France. Valade has conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He has also been a regular guest conductor at major festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, the Lucerne Festival, and the BBC Proms. One of Valade's most memorable performances was his 2008 appearance at the BBC Proms, where he conducted the London Sinfonietta in a program of works by Boulez and Ligeti. The concert was widely praised for its innovative programming and Valade's dynamic conducting. Valade's commitment to contemporary music has also led him to collaborate with many of the leading composers of our time. He has worked closely with Boulez, Ligeti, and Stockhausen, as well as with younger composers such as Matthias Pintscher and Jörg Widmann.

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