Nézet-Séguin << neh ZAY say GUN >>, Yannick (1975-…), is a leading Canadian orchestra and opera conductor. Nézet-Séguin became music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in Pennsylvania, beginning with the 2012-2013 season. In 2018, he became the music director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, New York. A music director has a number of duties, one of the most important of which is serving as the main conductor of an orchestra.
Nézet-Séguin also holds several other important conducting positions. Since 2000, he has been artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montreal, Canada. He was music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in the Netherlands from 2008 to 2018, and then became honorary conductor of that orchestra. Nézet-Séguin also served as principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2014. He has been a guest conductor with leading orchestras in Europe and North America. In addition, he is an accomplished concert pianist.
Nézet-Séguin has gained international acclaim conducting productions at the world’s leading opera houses. He has conducted at the Salzburg Festival in Austria; La Scala in Milan, Italy; and the Royal Opera House in London. In 2009, Nézet-Séguin made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
Yannick Nézet was born on March 6, 1975, in Montreal. His parents were Serge Séguin and Claudine Nézet, both university teachers. Yannick combined their names to create his family name. Nézet-Séguin studied music in Montreal. He formed his own orchestra and vocal group, La Chapelle de Montréal, in 1995. He performed with the ensemble until 2002. He made his first appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2008.
