GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Conductor Emeritus – Brussels Philharmonic
Michel Tabachnik is a phenomenon and a monument of musicality. Following his spectacular and widely recognised success as Music Director of the Brussels Philharmonic until June 2015, he remains their Conductor Emeritus.
Tabachnik followed invitations from prestigious orchestras such as SWR Symphonieorchester, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestra of La Fenice Venice, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai Torino, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestra della Svizzera italiana and the Lucerne and Salzburg Festivals.
Recent and upcoming highlights include invitations to RAI Torino, Basque National Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, Bochumer Symphoniker, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de Cannes Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Filharmonie Brno, Sofia Philharmonic, and Deutsche Radiophilharmonie, among others.
Havi…
Conductor Emeritus – Brussels Philharmonic
Michel Tabachnik is a phenomenon and a monument of musicality. Following his spectacular and widely recognised success as Music Director of the Brussels Philharmonic until June 2015, he remains their Conductor Emeritus.
Tabachnik followed invitations from prestigious orchestras such as SWR Symphonieorchester, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestra of La Fenice Venice, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai Torino, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestra della Svizzera italiana and the Lucerne and Salzburg Festivals.
Recent and upcoming highlights include invitations to RAI Torino, Basque National Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, Bochumer Symphoniker, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de Cannes Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Filharmonie Brno, Sofia Philharmonic, and Deutsche Radiophilharmonie, among others.
Having studied piano, composition and conducting in Geneva, Tabachnik was discovered by several famous conductors and enjoyed early support from Herbert von Karajan, who regularly invited him to the Berliner Philharmoniker, from Igor Markevitch whom he assisted at the RTVE Orchestra Madrid and also from Pierre Boulez, with whom worked at the BBC Symphony Orchestra London.
It was this collaboration and friendship that brought Tabachnik even closer to contemporary music and eminent composers such as Stockhausen, Berio, Ligeti and Messiaen. He has conducted more than 100 world premieres, among them at least 20 by Iannis Xenakis, who always regarded him as his “favorite performer”.
Tabachnik was Chief Conductor of the Gulbenkian Foundation Lisbon, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Lorraine and the Ensemble Intercontemporain Paris and served the Noord Nederlands Orkest as Chief Conductor for 6 years.
After his nomination as Chief Conductor of the Brussels Philharmonic in 2008 Tabachnik played a crucial role in shaping and developing the orchestra. Tabachnik secured the orchestra a residency at the Cité de la Musique Paris for three consecutive seasons and took it to venues in Berlin, London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Salzburg. International tours included Asia, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
At the same time, Tabachnik is internationally recognized as a composer and author. Several of his works recently received their world premiere: Prélude à la légende in Besançon, his violin concerto with Brussels Philharmonic, Livre de Job at the Cité de la musique Paris and finally Sumer in 2019, his cello concerto that was given its first performance by Gautier Capuçon. In March 2016 the Opéra de Lyon staged the world premiere of Tabachnik’s opera Benjamin – dernière nuit based on a libretto by Régis Debray.
As an author Tabachnik’s De la musique avant toute chose was published in 2008 and L’homme sauvage in 2013. He has written several novels, most recently L’enlèvement au Sinaï. Ma Rhapsodie, an essay dedicated to music and his life, was published by Buchet-Chastel in 2016.
Tabachnik is a respected pedagogue and has given numerous Master Classes, e.g. in Hilversum, Lisbon (Gulbenkian Foundation), and at the conservatories in Paris, Brussels, and Stockholm. He held the position of Professor of Conducting at both the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, and the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen.
His discography reflects the versatility of his repertoire, ranging from Beethoven, Bruckner and Wagner to Honegger, Xenakis and Boulez. His recording of Strawinsky’s Sacre du Printemps (2013) received a Gramophone Award, and the recording of Claude Debussy’s La Mer was ranked as a reference recording “number 1” by both Classica magazine and Radio France.
The energy of Michel Tabachnik galvanizes the musicians of the SWR Symphony Orchestra, with whom he carves a sound of imposing richness and clarity.
The compositions of Michel Tabachnik were published by the individual listed publishers.
Benjamin-Suite, 2017, for orchestra
Suite from the opera « Benjamin, dernière nuit » for orchestra
Publisher: Durand
Sumer, 2016, concerto for violoncello and small orchestra
World Premiere in December 2019, with Gautier Capuçon and the Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse
Publisher: Durand
Le Livre de Job, 2013, for 4 soloists, mixed choir and orchestra
World Premiere: 8 October 2014, Cité de la Musique, Paris
Editeur: Durand
Benjamin, dernière nuit, 2012, opera
Commissioner: Opéra de Lyon
Libretto: Régis Debra
World Premiere: 15 March 2016, Opéra de Lyon
Publisher: Durand
Lumières fossiles, 2011, for orchestra
Commissioner: Noord Nederlands Orkest
World Premiere: Spring 2013 marking the centenary of Stravinsky’s « Le Sacre du printemps «
Publisher: Durand
Le Cri de Mohim, revised version 2010, for 2 voices, 4 speakers and orchestra
Commissioner: Tonhalle Orchester Zurich marking the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation
World Premiere: 26 juin 1991, Genève, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
Publisher: Durand
20’
Genèse II, 2010, for violon solo and orchestra
Dedictee: Brussels Philharmonic
World Premiere: 15 March 2013, Otto Derolez (violin), Brussels Philharmonic
Publisher: Durand
L'Arche, revision 2009, for soprano and chamber orchestra
Commissioner: City of Geneva marking the 100th anniversary of Ernest Ansermet
World Premiere of the 2009 version: 12 December 2009, Utrecht, Insomnia Ensemble
Publisher: Salabert
15’
Pacte des Onze, revised 2007, for soloists, choir, orchestra and tapes ad libitum
Commissioner: IRCAM - Centre Georges Pompidou for the original version (1984)
World Premiere: 30 March 1987, Paris, Théâtre de la Ville, New London Chamber Choir, Ensemble Intercontemporain
Publisher: Salabert
25’
Diptyque/Echo, 2007, for violin solo and orchestra
Commissioner: Noord Nederlands Orkest
World Premiere: 21 January 2010, Eeva Koskinen (violin), Drachten, Noord Nederlands Orkest
Publisher: Durand
16’
Nord, 2006, for orchestra
Commissioner: Noord Nederlands Orkest
World Premiere: May 2008, Groningen, Noord Nederlands Orkest
Publisher: Durand
16’
Concerto de piano, 2005, for piano and orchestra
Commissioner: Noord Nederlands Orkest
World Premiere: 10 May 2007, Groningen, Ralph va Raat (piano), Noord Nederlands Orkest
Publisher: Durand
22’
Évocation, 1994, for choir and orchestra
Commissioner: Festival de Verbier
World Premiere: 31 July 1994, Verbier, Orchestre des jeunes de la Philharmonie d'Israël
Publisher: Durant
9’
Élévation, 1990, for choir and orchestra
Commissioner: Choeur Novantiqua de Sion
World Premiere: Geneva, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande dirigé par Bernard Héritier
Publisher: manuscript
7’
Prélude à la Légende, 1989-2010, for orchestra
Commissioner: Association des Musiciens Suisses
World Premiere: 23 February 1990, Lausanne, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Publisher: Durand
15’
La Légende de Haïsh', 1989, for 6 voices, double choir and orchestra
Commissioner: Radio France, for the festivities marking the bicentenary of the French Revolution
World Premiere: 1989, Chœur et Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Publisher: Durand
30’
7 Rituels Atlantes, 1984, for choir a capella
Commissioner: Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian
World Premiere: 1984, Lisbon, Choeur et Orchestre de la Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian
Publisher: Salabert
14’
Les Perséïdes, 1981 for orchestra
Commissioner: Centre européen pour la recherche musicale
World Premiere: 21 November 1976, Metz, Orchestre Philharmonique de Lorraine
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
16’
Cosmogonie, 1981, for orchestra
Commissioner: Norddeutscher Rundfunk
World Premiere: January 1983, Hannover, Norddeutscher Rundfunk Hannover
Publisher: Salabert
26’
Trois Impressions, 1975, for 9 instruments
Commissioner: Rencontres internationales d'art contemporain de la Rochelle
World Premiere: 29 June 1976, Ensemble de la Rochelle
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
12’
Éclipses, 1974, for piano
Commissioner: Rencontres internationales d'art contemporain de la Rochelle
World Premiere: 1975, Lisbon, Orchestre de la Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
9’
Argile, 1974, for 4 percussionists
Commissioner: Fondation de l'Économie Suisse pour les arts
World Premiere: 1974, Geneva, Radio Suisse Romande, Ensemble Le Cercle
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
11’
Movimenti, 1973, for orchestra
Commissioner: Festival de Lucerne
World Premiere: 1 August 1973, Lucerne, Festival Strings Orchestra
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
16’
Invention à 16 voix, 1972, for 23 instruments
Commissioner: Centre européen pour la recherche musicale
World Premiere: 25 November 1972, Metz, Ensemble européen de musique contemporaine
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
15’
Mondes, 1972, for 2 orchestras
Commissioner: Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian
World Premiere: 23 November 1971, Metz, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (conducted by Gilbert Amy and Michel Tabachnik)
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
40’
Sillages, 1972, for string orchestra
Commissioner: Radio Suisse Romande, Diorama de musique contemporaine
World Premiere: 3 May 1972, Geneva, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
15’
D'autres Sillages, 1972, for tape and 8 percussionists ad libitum
Commissioner: Rencontres internationales d'art contemporain de la Rochelle
World Premiere: 1973, La Rochelle
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
15’
Fresque, 1969, for 33 instruments
Commissioner: Festival international d'art contemporain de Royan
World Premiere: 24 March 1970, Royan, Domaine musical de Paris
Publisher: Casa Ricordi
20‘
Supernovae, 1967, for 16 instruments
Commissioner: Conservatoire de Genève
World Premiere octobre 1967, Domaine musical de Paris
Publisher: Novello
17‘
Frise, 1968, for piano
Commissioner: Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian
World Premiere: 1972, Claude Helffer, Lisbon
Publisher: Novello
25‘
