Michel Swierczewski

Biography

Born in 1955 in Paris. An enthusiast of 20th century music, Swierczewski directed the Ensemble Musique Oblique from 1981 to 1985, becoming in 1983 the assistant to Pierre Boulez at the Ensemble Intercontemporain. With Claudio Abbado at Milan’s La Scala and Georges Pretre at the Paris Opera (1985-86). He acquired the international experience that opened the doors for him to some of the greatest orchestras: in France, the Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Opéra de Lyon, Ensemble Intercontemporain, National Orchestras of Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Pays de Loire. Elsewhere, among others, the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Stockholm Royal Philharmonic, Bamberger Symphoniker, Berliner Sinfonie Orchester, München Rundfunk Orchester, Bremen Staatsphilharmonie, Tonkünstler Orchester Wien, Recreation Grosses Orchester Graz, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Flanders Royal Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, the Queensland Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of the MDR Leipzig with whom he has collaborated intensively for almost 8 years. From 1991 to 1996, Swierczewski’s participation in the Opera Festival of the Imperial Theatre of Compiegne revived interest in some of the most important French operas: Gustave III (Auber), Christophe Colomb (Milhaud), Le Déserteur (Monsigny), Une Education Manquée (Chabrier), Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Eté (Thomas), Le Domino Noir (Auber) and Médée (Cherubini). Swierczewski’s recordings with the Gulbenkian Orchestras, first with Ades, and then Nimbus Records, have been internationally acclaimed and won several awards (Grand Prix de l’Académie du Disque Français, Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros, Laser d’Or RTL, Sunday Times Record of the Year, Prix Massenet de l’Académie du Disque Lyrique). Update: February 2009