Philippe Entremont

Philippe Entremont is one of the world's leading pianists and a well-known conductor. He is particularly well known as a pianist for his performances in the early twentieth century repertory and music of the Classical era.

His father was a conductor, who when Philippe was a boy, was conductor at the Strasbourg Opera. Philippe's mother was a pianist, who gave him his first lessons. He studied with Marguerite Long, who was a favored interpreter of the music of Maurice Ravel. In 1944 he went to study at the Paris Conservatory with Jean Doyen. At the age of 12 Entremont won the Harriet Cohen Piano Medal.

At the Paris Conservatory he won the first prizes in solfège when he was 12, in chamber music when he was 15, and in piano when he was 16. He made his professional debut in 1951 in Barcelona. He began touring in Europe.

He made his American debut on January 5, 1953, with the National Orchestral Association, with Jacques Barzun conducting. He became particularly well-known for his performances and recordings of music by such composers as Milhaud, Stravinsky, Jolivet, and Leonard Bernstein.

He has appeared as a pianist on five continents in practically every major musical center and with the great orchestras for the world, and at many major summer festivals. He also appears frequently in chamber music presentations, including appearances with flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal.

In 1967 he also took up conducting. In 1976 he was appointed principal conductor and lifetime musical director of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. In 1980 he became music director of the New Orleans (Louisiana) Symphony Orchestra, remaining in that position until 1986. In 1985 he was appointed music director of the Denver (Colorado) Symphony Orchestra. From 1988 to 1990 he was conductor of the Orchestre des Concerts Colonnes in Paris, and in 1993 became principal conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of the Netherlands.

He also is active as a teacher, in addition to maintaining a very busy concert schedule. He has been the president of the Ravel Academy in Paris and is director of the American Conservatory of Fontainebleau. His recordings have won the Grand Prix du Disque and the Netherlands Edison Award.