A classical voyage with… Laurence Equilbey

In the latest episode of ‘A classical voyage with…’, What the France has another interview all about classical music for you, as this time, we meet Laurence Equilbey, a world-renowned conductor and the creator of both Insula Orchestra and the Accentus choir.

An interview with Laurence Equilbey

In this exclusive interview, the 61-year-old takes us through her musical journey so far, starting with her early childhood spent living in Germany before her return to France at the age of 11. The young Equilbey’s stay at a French boarding school would then further nurture her passion for music, before a pivotal spell in Austria marked a major turning point in her career.

Over the course of this exchange, Equilbey also reveals her number-one French dessert as well as a couple of her favourite French expressions, thereby adding a personal touch to her story. From Germany to Austria via France, every stop along the way weaves a rich tapestry of the Paris native’s fascinating and multifaceted musical background.

So, who is Laurence Equilbey?

Born on 6^th March 1962 in Paris, Laurence Equilbey is a French conductor and music director who is particularly distinguished for her contributions to classical music. As a student, she deepened her knowledge of conducting at the Conservatoire de Paris.

Acclaimed for her commitment to innovation in musical performance, Equilbey has very much left her mark on the world of performing arts through her significant efforts in promoting classical music, with her career bearing testament to a profound passion for musical art as well as an unwavering dedication to achieving excellence in her field.

Equilbey’s career

In 1991, the then 29-year-old founded the Parisian chamber choir Accentus, which is dedicated to promoting a cappella music and oratorios by covering works dating from the mid-18^th century all the way through to the modern day. As a result, the choir has since won several choral competitions.

Four years later, Equilbey created the Jeune Chœur de Paris, a youth choir aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds in the French capital. In 1999, the JCP won the Florilège Vocal de Tours before coming second in the Guido d’Arezzo International Polyphonic Competition, while, in 2002, the choir joined the senior department for young singers at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris, which develops 16- to 28-year-olds into qualified vocalists. Equilbey directed the JCP alongside Geoffroy Jourdain until 2010, when she passed the reins onto Henri Chalet but remained as the choir’s artistic co-director until 2016.

In 2004, Equilbey founded Tenso, a programme featuring some of Europe’s greatest vocal ensembles and whose aim is to promote the vocal arts across the continent whilst facilitating the exchanging of scores and the coaching of young singers and composers. Three years later, with help from the Orange Foundation, the music director turned her hand to inventing the e-tuner, a portable keyboard that makes tuning up easier for a cappella singers working with difficult acoustics.

In 2012, with support from the Hauts-de-Seine council, Equilbey founded Insula Orchestra, a period-instrument ensemble that has resided at Boulogne-Billancourt’s La Seine Musicale facility since 2017 and that specialises in performing classical music from the 18^th and early 19^th centuries. As the orchestra’s director, Equilbey schedules each season’s guest performances, while the ensemble itself regularly records albums and has performed all over Europe.

You can check out some of Laurence Equilbey’s favourite made-in-France tracks on our playlist.

Curators

A Made In France Selection By Laurence Equilbey

A selection of "made in France" tracks, carefully handpicked by Laurence Equilbey.

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