Yannick Nézet-Séguin among the 50 most important people according to Maclean’s

Yannick Nézet-Séguin among the 50 most important people according to Maclean’s

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain, is one of the 50 most important people in Canada according to Maclean’s Magazine. This second edition of the magazine’s annual list, compiled by its writers and editors, was published on November 21. It includes figures from the realms of business, politics and culture. Alongside Yannick are names such as Jean-Marc Vallée, Justin Trudeau, George Stroumboulopoulos and Thomas Mulcair.

The authors of the list based their choices on three criteria: institutional standing, presence in the news, as well as influence and the power of ideas. Maestro Nézet-Séguin stood out mostly in terms of this last criterion, notably for his opposition to the possible closing of conservatories in Québec. You may recall his open letter to the Minister of Culture and Communications, published in the media in September.

This nomination comes on the heels of his crowning as Conductor of the Year by the 2014 Echo Klassik Awards (in Germany) in October for his recording of works by Stravinsky and Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2013 at Deutsche Grammophon. Jean R. Dupré, President and CEO of the Orchestre Métropolitain, expressed his delight with this acknowledgment of the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor: “Being included in this list among such prestigious names is a great honour for him. Quebecers can be proud of the international recognition shown to this young Montréal conductor, whose career is thriving as much abroad as it is here at home. We are very fortunate to be able to host him at the Maison symphonique for the concerts of the Orchestre Métropolitain.”

The Orchestre Métropolitain has been under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin for 15 years now. It should be mentioned that the maestro has also been Music Director for the Philadelphia Orchestra since September 2012 as well as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra since 2008. He continues to work with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, for which he performed as Principal Guest Conductor from 2008 to 2014.