Stéphane Denève
Encyclopedia
Stéphane Denève is a French
conductor
. Born in Tourcoing
, France
, and a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, Denève has worked as conducting assistant to Sir Georg Solti with the Orchestre de Paris
, Georges Prêtre
at the Opéra National de Paris, and Seiji Ozawa
at the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto
in 1998. He made his USA conducting debut at Santa Fe Opera
in 1999 with
Poulenc's
Dialogues des Carmelites
, and has worked with many other of the world's major orchestras as well.
Denève assumed the post of music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
(RSNO) in September 2005, his first music directorship. In his first season, he led the RSNO at the 2006 Proms concerts in London, and its first ever performance in France. In April 2007, he extended his contract with the Orchestra through 2011. In March 2010, the RSNO announced the further extension of Denève's contract for one more year, and the conclusion of his tenure after the 2011-2012 season. Denève and the RSNO have made several commercial recordings for the Naxos and Chandos labels, including of Albert Roussel
and Guillaume Connesson
. Also in March 2010, in parallel with the RSNO announcement, the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
announced the appointment of Denève as its next chief conductor, starting with the 2011-2012 season.
In July 2007, Denève married Åsa Masters in a ceremony in California. The couple have a daughter, Alma, born in 2008.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. Born in Tourcoing
Tourcoing
Tourcoing is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Nord.Tourcoing is situated near the cities of Lille and Roubaix and the Belgian border.-Main sights:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, Denève has worked as conducting assistant to Sir Georg Solti with 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,...
, Georges Prêtre
Georges Prêtre
- Biography :He was born in Waziers , and attended the Douai Conservatory and then studied harmony under Maurice Duruflé and conducting under André Cluytens among others at the Conservatoire de Paris. Amongst his early musical interests were jazz and trumpet. After graduating, he conducted in a...
at the Opéra National de Paris, and Seiji Ozawa
Seiji Ozawa
is a Japanese conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of large-scale late Romantic works. He is most known for his work as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Vienna State Opera.-Early years:...
at the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto
Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto
Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto is an annual classical music festival held in August and September in the Japanese Alps near Matsumoto. Founded in 1992 by music director Seiji Ozawa, the festival's resident orchestra is the renowned Saito Kinen Orchestra....
in 1998. He made his USA 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:...
in 1999 with
Poulenc's
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was a French composer and a member of the French group Les six. He composed solo piano music, chamber music, oratorio, choral music, opera, ballet music, and orchestral music...
Dialogues des Carmelites
Dialogues of the Carmelites
Dialogues of the Carmelites , is an opera in three acts by Francis Poulenc. In 1953, M. Valcarenghi approached Poulenc to commission a ballet for La Scala in Milan; when Poulenc found the proposed subject uninspiring, Valcarenghi suggested instead a screenplay by Georges Bernanos, based on the...
, and has worked with many other of the world's major orchestras as well.
Denève assumed the post of music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
(RSNO) in September 2005, his first music directorship. In his first season, he led the RSNO at the 2006 Proms concerts in London, and its first ever performance in France. In April 2007, he extended his contract with the Orchestra through 2011. In March 2010, the RSNO announced the further extension of Denève's contract for one more year, and the conclusion of his tenure after the 2011-2012 season. Denève and the RSNO have made several commercial recordings for the Naxos and Chandos labels, including of Albert Roussel
Albert Roussel
Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel was a French composer. He spent seven years as a midshipman, turned to music as an adult, and became one of the most prominent French composers of the interwar period...
and Guillaume Connesson
Guillaume Connesson
Guillaume Connesson is a French composer born in 1970 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.- Biography :Connesson studied the piano, music theory, music history and choir conducting in Conservatoire National de Région in Boulogne-Billancourt and composition by Marcel Landowski during six years from...
. Also in March 2010, in parallel with the RSNO announcement, the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Stuttgart in Germany. The ensemble was founded in 1945 by American occupation authorities as the orchestra for Radio Stuttgart, under the name Sinfonieorchester von Radio Stuttgart...
announced the appointment of Denève as its next chief conductor, starting with the 2011-2012 season.
In July 2007, Denève married Åsa Masters in a ceremony in California. The couple have a daughter, Alma, born in 2008.
External links
- Stéphane Denève official website
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra official website
- Stéphane Denève at IMG ArtistsIMG ArtistsIMG Artists LLC is a top universal performing arts management corporation that was acquired by International Management Group in 1984. Chairman and CEO of IMG, Mark McCormack, bought out Hamlen/Landau, a small, New York based artist-management music agency, founded by Charles Hamlen and Edna...
- Biography (in French)
- David Nice, "Black eye from the maestro guy?" I'll think of something later blog, 15 November 2010.