Orchestre Festival Bach Montreal
Conducted by Jean-Claude Picard

For its third season, Orchestre Festival Bach Montreal will be conducted by Jean-Claude Picard, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières. Jean-Claude Picard began his career as Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Two years later, the RSNO announced his promotion to the position of Associate Conductor, reflecting the precision of his work and the bond he established with the musicians.

Canadian conductor Jean-Claude Picard is widely regarded as a communicative and engaging conductor by fellow artists, critics and audiences alike.

Reviewing Jean-Claude Picard’s inaugural concert at the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Le Nouvelliste writes: “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression and maestro Jean-Claude Picard has magnificently seized his by undoubtedly conquering the public of Trois-Rivières. The audience gave a heartfelt standing ovation at the end of each of the two parts of this exciting concert, which dramatically marked the arrival of Jean-Claude Picard at the helm of a dashing and vibrant OSTR.”

Jean-Claude started his conducting career through his first position as Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Two years later, the RSNO announced his promotion to the position of Associate Conductor, reflecting the detailed quality of his work and the meaningful relationship built with the members of the orchestra.

He forged close ties with Scottish Ballet, Scotland’s national dance company and one of the four leading ballet companies in the United Kingdom, during his tenure at the RSNO. His first invitations with the Company saw him conduct performances of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”, Prokofiev’s “Cinderella” and a Stravinsky double bill featuring “The Rite of Spring” and “The Fairy’s kiss”. Scottish Ballet appointed Jean-Claude as its new Chief Conductor in April 2019.

In addition, Jean-Claude has worked extensively in his native Canada, conducting leading orchestras such as the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Toronto Symphony, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Symphony Nova Scotia and Victoria Symphony as well as Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and I Musici.  As Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières he succeeds renowned conductor Jacques Lacombe.

In Europe, Jean-Claude has enjoyed successful return visits to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra following the completion of his tenure, the Manchester Camerata, Scottish Ballet, a critically acclaimed debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Zürich Tonhalle Orchestra, Geneva Chamber Orchestra, Porto Symphony Orchestra Casa da Música, Leipzig Symphony, Pärnu City Orchestra and Red Note Ensemble. His first commercial recording with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra received great critical acclaim.

Prior to conducting, Jean-Claude was a sought-after flutist and performed with orchestras such as the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway, l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Geneva Chamber Orchestra and Les Violons du Roy, giving him invaluable experience from inside the orchestra in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Concert program
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Cantate Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51
Cantate Ich will den Kreuzstab gern tragen, BWV 56
Cantate Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, BWV 32
Ouverture no. 1 for orchestra, in C major, BWV 1066

Artists
Orchestre Festival Bach Montréal
Jean-Claude Picard, conductor
Anna-Sophie Neher, soprano
Stephen Hegedus, bass

Broadcast live from Maison symphonique, Montreal
on November 28, 2020 at 7:30pm (available for one week)

This concert is part of the Festival Bach Montréal.

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