Laurence Equilbey

Laurence Equilbey
Background information
Born6 March 1962
France
Occupation(s)Conductor
LabelsErato Records, Naïve Records
Member ofInsula 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

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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

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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 [fr]. 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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "INSULA ORCHESTRA: INSTRUMENTS OF THEN, SPIRIT OF TODAY". Insula Orchestra.
  2. ^ Sulcas, Roslyn (July 18, 2018), Balloons, iPads, Aquarium: A Conductor Creates a ‘Creation’, The New York Times, retrieved June 30, 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ a b Andrew Clements (2008-05-02). "Dvořák: Stabat Mater, Engerer/ Accentus/ Equilbey". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
  4. ^ a b c Lacroix, Nicole (December 7, 2023), Handel's Messiah with Laurence Equilbey and the NSO, WETA, retrieved June 30, 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  5. ^ Fauré with a film: We meet innovative French Conductor Laurence Equilbey, Art Muse London, February 22, 2023, retrieved June 30, 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  6. ^ a b Nepil, Hannah (February 23, 2018), Laurence Equilbey: when Haydn meets high-tech, The Financial Times{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  7. ^ James R. Oestreich (2000-11-20). "Spirits, but Not Heavenly, In a Wordless Song of Love". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
  8. ^ "Conductor Laurence Equilbey in Conversation with Colin Clarke". SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL.
  9. ^ "Sortie du disque Louise Farrenc : Symphonies 1 & 3". YouTube.
  10. ^ 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{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. ^ 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{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
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