Laurence Equilbey
Laurence Equilbey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 6 March 1962 France |
| Occupation | Conductor |
| Labels | Erato Records, Naïve Records |
| Member of | Insula Orchestra, Accentus (founder, music director) |
Laurence Equilbey (born 6 March 1962) is a French conductor, known for her work in the choral repertoire, and more recently as the founder and music director of the Insula Orchestra.[1] She also founded the chamber choir Accentus[2] in 1991, and has conducted commercial recordings for such labels as Naïve Records.[3] Equilbey invented the "e-tuner", an electronic means of tuning quarter tones and 1/3 tones.[4]
Early life and education
[edit]Laurence Equilbey was born on March 6, 1962.[1] Equilbey studied piano and flute in her early life.
She played piano and other instruments as a child, also singing. After studying musicology and writing music, she decided on conducting as a career path at age 18.[5] In Vienna, she studied with Nikolaus Harnoncourt.[6] She also studied in Paris, London and Scandinavia, studying with Claudio Abbado,[6] Eric Ericson, Denise Ham, Colin Metters and Jorma Panula.
Career
[edit]Equilbey founded the chamber choir Accentus in 1991, and continues as its music director. With Accentus, she has conducted commercial recordings for such labels as Naïve Records.[3][7] In 1995, she founded the Jeune Chœur de Paris, which in 2002 was incorporated as a department of the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris. She co-directs the programme with Geoffroy Jourdain.
In 2008, Equilbey was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.[1] Since the 2009–2010 season, Equilbey has been an associate artist, with Accentus, of the Ensemble orchestral de Paris.
In 2012, she founded the Insula Orchestra.[1] One of their goals is to perform the neglected works by historic women composers, such as Louise Farrenc.[8] In July 2021, Erato Records released their recording of her conducting Farrenc's Symphony nos. 1 and 3.[9]
She made her debut leading the National Symphony Orchestra in October 2023, at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.[4] She led both Insula and Accentus at the 2023 Hong Kong Arts Festival.[10]
Equilbey invented the "e-tuner", an electronic means of tuning quarter tones and 1/3 tones.[4] In 2023, Equilbey, Insula, and Accentus collaborated with artist Mat Collishaw on the multimedia piece "Sky Burial."[11] Outside of conventional classical music, she is a collaborator in the Private Domain project, which has included work with Émilie Simon, Murcof, Para One, and Marc Collin of the band Nouvelle Vague.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "INSULA ORCHESTRA: INSTRUMENTS OF THEN, SPIRIT OF TODAY". Insula Orchestra.
- ^ Sulcas, Roslyn (July 18, 2018), "Balloons, iPads, Aquarium: A Conductor Creates a 'Creation'", The New York Times, retrieved June 30, 2024
- ^ a b Andrew Clements (2008-05-02). "Dvořák: Stabat Mater, Engerer/ Accentus/ Equilbey". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
- ^ a b c Lacroix, Nicole (December 7, 2023), Handel's Messiah with Laurence Equilbey and the NSO, WETA, retrieved June 30, 2024
- ^ Fauré with a film: We meet innovative French Conductor Laurence Equilbey, Art Muse London, February 22, 2023, retrieved June 30, 2024
- ^ a b Nepil, Hannah (February 23, 2018), Laurence Equilbey: when Haydn meets high-tech, The Financial Times
- ^ James R. Oestreich (2000-11-20). "Spirits, but Not Heavenly, In a Wordless Song of Love". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
- ^ "Conductor Laurence Equilbey in Conversation with Colin Clarke". SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL.
- ^ "Sortie du disque Louise Farrenc : Symphonies 1 & 3". YouTube. 9 July 2021.
- ^ Tsui, Enid (February 4, 2023), Conductor on her love of period instruments, being name-checked by Cate Blanchett's character in Tár, and why classical music needs to offer a spectacle, South China Morning Post, retrieved June 30, 2024
- ^ Ashley, Tim (November 21, 2023), "Insula Orch/Accentus/Equilbey review – Sky Burial's reflections on life and death are beautiful and moving", The Guardian, retrieved June 30, 2024
External links
[edit]
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Musicians from Paris
- French choral conductors
- French women conductors (music)
- Knights of the Legion of Honour
- Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
- 21st-century French conductors (music)
- 21st-century French women musicians
- 20th-century French conductors (music)
- 20th-century French women musicians
- Erato Records artists