The London Philharmonic Orchestra has announced that Yannick Nézet-Séguin will take up the position of Principal Guest Conductor at the start of the Orchestra's 2008/09 season.

The 32-year-old French Canadian's appointment follows his new position of Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and his Artistic Direction of the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal.

Unanimous and instantaneous respect from orchestral musicians, a formidable technique and a sense of calm, communicative authority have all been cited as reasons for his success, and have prompted his swift appointments at both the Rotterdam and London Philharmonic Orchestras.

Timothy Walker, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra said today: “Many who witnessed Yannick's impressive debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra will understand the motivation for this appointment. Taking outstanding musicality, knowledge and technique as a given Yannick's brilliance lies in his ability to move players to exceptional performance and to communicate a strength and vitality of vision to the listener that is totally engrossing”.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin was born in Montreal in 1975 and began piano lessons at the age of five, singing as chorister in the Cathedral Choir and later entering the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal where he studied piano, composition and conducting. He has studied with a number of eminent conductors, among them Carlo Maria Giulini, and was appointed Artistic Director of the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal in 2000. This remarkable musical partnership has attracted widespread praise and several awards - for both concert and recording work. Yannick Nézet-Séguin regularly appears with the Toronto Symphony and other leading Canadian orchestras and makes his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra Washington later this season, with debuts at other major US orchestras planned. In 2004 Yannick Nézet-Séguin began his European career, working with ensembles including the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and in Britain the City of Birmingham Symphony, Northern Sinfonia and Scottish Chamber Orchestras. He has considerable opera experience, and has conducted acclaimed productions for the companies in Montreal, Vancouver, Quebec and Toronto; plans include major operatic debuts in North America and Europe during the next two seasons. He continues to find time for occasional appearances as pianist in recitals and performance of chamber music. Recordings to date include a series with Orchestre Métropolitain for the Canadian label ATMA Classique. There are also plans to record with both Rotterdam Philharmonic and for the London Philharmonic's own label.

'We will be hearing a good deal more from Nézet-Séguin in coming seasons, if his most recent performances in this country are anything to go by….a conductor with not only the self-confidence and virtuosity that speaks of a maestro in the making, but also with a highly individual approach to the music.'
The Guardian, April 2007

'Yannick Nézet-Séguin is going to be huge… It's not just that he is a fine conductor, with his onstage dynamism, technical control, evident rapport with orchestral musicians and wonderful sense of style. He is an absolute musical life force, in whose hands music galvanises itself and bounds from the page with zest, exuberance, and sheer joy.'
Glasgow Herald, April 2007

Canada has produced several singers and instrumentalists who have become major international stars, but never a conductor. So far. Keep your eyes and ears on Nézet-Séguin.
The Ottowa Citizen, May 2008

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