Frédéric Chaslin
Encyclopedia
Frédéric Chaslin is a French conductor, composer and pianist.
The son of an architect
, Chaslin studied at the Conservatoire de Paris
(Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris), where he won first prizes in harmony, counterpoint, fugue, piano accompaniment, vocal direction, and orchestration. He later studied at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, where his mentors included Paul von Schilawsky.
In 1989, Chaslin became an assistant conductor to Daniel Barenboim
at the Orchestre de Paris
and at the Bayreuth Festival
. In 1991, he held a similar post with Pierre Boulez
at the Ensemble Intercontemporain
. Chaslin was music director of the Opera de Rouen
from 1991 to 1994. He was chief conductor of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
from 1999 to 2002, between the music directorships of David Shallon and Leon Botstein
. From 1999 to 2005, he was a resident conductor of the Vienna State Opera
. He served as Generalmusikdirektor of the Nationaltheater Mannheim
from 2005 to 2006.
Chaslin first conducted in the United States at the Metropolitan Opera
in November 2002. In July 2009, he made his conducting debut at Santa Fe Opera
(SFO), in the first production of La traviata
to feature Natalie Dessay
as Violetta. In May 2010, SFO announced the appointment of Chaslin as the company's second chief conductor in its history, effective 1 October 2010, with an initial contract of three years.
Chaslin's compositions include the Chagall Suite for orchestra, Diva Dance for the film The Fifth Element
, songs and lieder, and several operas, including adaptations of Wuthering Heights
(libretto by P.H. Fisher) and of S.P. Somtow's Vampire Junction
. He has also written a book on music, La Musique dans Tous les Sens (scheduled English title, Music in Every Sense), published in 2009.
Chaslin is divorced from French mezzo-soprano
Elsa Maurus, and has two sons from his earlier marriage.
The son of an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, Chaslin studied at the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
(Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris), where he won first prizes in harmony, counterpoint, fugue, piano accompaniment, vocal direction, and orchestration. He later studied at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, where his mentors included Paul von Schilawsky.
In 1989, Chaslin became an assistant conductor to Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim, KBE is an Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor. He has served as music director of several major symphonic and operatic orchestras and made numerous recordings....
at the Orchestre de Paris
Orchestre de Paris
The Orchestre de Paris is a French orchestra based in Paris. The orchestra performs most of its concerts at the Salle Pleyel.-History:In 1967, following the dissolution of the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conductor Charles Munch was called on by the Minister of Culture,...
and at the Bayreuth Festival
Bayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
. In 1991, he held a similar post with Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
at the Ensemble Intercontemporain
Ensemble InterContemporain
The Ensemble InterContemporain is a French chamber orchestra, based in Paris at the Cité de la musique and IRCAM, which specialises in contemporary classical music....
. Chaslin was music director of the Opera de Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
from 1991 to 1994. He was chief conductor of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra of the Israel Broadcasting Authority is a major orchestra of Israel...
from 1999 to 2002, between the music directorships of David Shallon and Leon Botstein
Leon Botstein
Leon Botstein is an American conductor and the President of Bard College . Botstein is the music director and principal conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra and conductor laureate of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, where he served as music director and principal conductor from 2003-2010...
. From 1999 to 2005, he was a resident conductor of the Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
. He served as Generalmusikdirektor of the Nationaltheater Mannheim
Nationaltheater Mannheim
The present National Theatre Mannheim , which dates from 1957, is a theatre and opera company in Mannheim, Germany with a variety of performance spaces...
from 2005 to 2006.
Chaslin first conducted in the United States at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in November 2002. In July 2009, he made his conducting debut at Santa Fe Opera
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
(SFO), in the first production of La traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
to feature Natalie Dessay
Natalie Dessay
Natalie Dessay is a French coloratura soprano. She dropped the silent "h" in her first name in honor of Natalie Wood when she was in grade school and subsequently simplified the spelling of her surname outside France...
as Violetta. In May 2010, SFO announced the appointment of Chaslin as the company's second chief conductor in its history, effective 1 October 2010, with an initial contract of three years.
Chaslin's compositions include the Chagall Suite for orchestra, Diva Dance for the film The Fifth Element
The Fifth Element
The Fifth Element is a 1997 French science fiction film directed, co-written, and based on a story by Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Milla Jovovich...
, songs and lieder, and several operas, including adaptations of Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë published in 1847. It was her only novel and written between December 1845 and July 1846. It remained unpublished until July 1847 and was not printed until December after the success of her sister Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre...
(libretto by P.H. Fisher) and of S.P. Somtow's Vampire Junction
Vampire Junction
rightVampire Junction is the title of S. P. Somtow's 1984 novel, the first in a series about Timmy Valentine, a 12-year-old rock star who is actually a 2,000-year-old vampire...
. He has also written a book on music, La Musique dans Tous les Sens (scheduled English title, Music in Every Sense), published in 2009.
Chaslin is divorced from French mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
Elsa Maurus, and has two sons from his earlier marriage.