Paris Conducting Workshop
Tchaikovsky & Dvorak String Serenades
with
October 22-26 2019
AJMADAC is proud to present the 3rd Paris Conducting Workshop with the Orchestre Prométhée. The last few years have seen the rise of many conducting competitions, masterclasses, study programs, and with them the increased necessity of having professional and presentable videos for applications. Some of these competitions (Almaty CC, Makris, NRTA, Antal Dorati, Audite, Mendelssohn Comp etc.) regularly program the Tchaikovsky and Dvorak Serenades for strings in the Eliminatory and First Round phases.
The Paris Conducting Workshop is committed to producing high quality video recordings on 3 to 4 movements of the Serenades with the Orchestre Prométhée, which will be a great asset for the personal promotion of the participants. Participants will be under the supervision and mentorship of Adrian McDonnell and Pierre-Michel Durand that will coach and advise them throughout the workshop.
Orchestre Prométhée
The Orchestre Prométhée is a French internationally acclaimed group of musicians under the management of Pierre-Michel Durand. In the past years they have produced over 400 concerts and many collaborations with the New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Canada and the Wiener Staatsballett, including many performances of the Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings with the NYC Ballet.
The Orchestre Prométhée also produces a wide array of symphonic and operatic concerts with soloists like Roberto Alagna, Joyce Di Donato, Natalie Dessay, Sonya Yoncheva ...
Pierre-Michel Durand
At the age of 21, Pierre-Michel Durand won the 1st Prize of the Prague International Conducting Competition, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Prize and the Talich Prize.
He is invited by the Orchestre de Paris, the Monte-Carlo Phil Orchestra, the Lamoureux Orchestra, the Lorraine Phil Orchestra, the Orchestre de Picardie, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Caracas, and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with which he recorded Stravinsky’s Petrushka.
Associate conductor of Jean-Claude Casadesus at the National Orchestra of Lille for several seasons, he conducts on tour Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Gounod’s Faust at the Lille Opera. In 2004, he founded l’Orchestre Prométhée with which he performed in numerous festivals.
Pierre-Michel Durand worked with great soloists: P. Amoyal, M. Beroff, G. Capuçon, M. Coppey, A. Dumay, B. Engerer, H. Grimaud, G. Hoffman, L. Korcia, M. Maisky , P. Meyer, X. Phillips, N. Radulovic, M. Rudy... He also accompanied K. Deshayes, N. Dessay, J. DiDonato, B. Hendricks, F. Lott, P. Petibon, S. Piau, B. Uria Monzon, R. Alagna, G. Bacquier, I. D'Arcangelo, F. Ferrari, L. Tezier, R. Villazon...
He has directed many operas of Adam, Bizet, Donizetti, Gounod, Mozart, Offenbach, Puccini, Rossini, Verdi (including La Traviata with Sonya Yoncheva).
He performs regularly in the Parisian halls: Salle Pleyel (R. Strauss’ Don Quichotte, The Rite of Spring, symphonies No. 3 and No. 6 Mahler ...), Radio France (Petrouchka, symphony No. 5 Shostakovich .. ), Théâtre du Châtelet for ballets Prelude in the afternoon of a Faun, Cinderella, Petrushka as well as Don Quixote with the Wiener Staatsballett.
Pierre-Michel Durand performs each season at the Philharmonie de Paris. He recently directed Les Mozarts de l'Opera at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and the Figaro Gala at the Opéra Comique. Pierre-Michel Durand is Director of the Orchestra Training Department at CRR de Paris and conducting professor at the Pôle Supérieur Paris-Boulogne.
Adrian McDonnell
Appointed as the first assistant conductor of the Greensboro Opera Company and the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra at the age of 22, Adrian McDonnell spent 26 seasons as musical director of the new Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris.
He has also served as music director of the Inter- Conservatory Orchestra of the city of Paris, as well as the Eastern Symphony Orchestra in the United States.
With a vast and general repertoire, he has commissioned and directed numerous creations and covers in the field of contemporary music, including works with L. Foss, M. Flügelman, M. Merlet, A. Essyad, K. Maratka, J-M. Damase, T. Blondeau, N. Bonet, S. Delplace, H-J. Schubnel, J. Moran, O. Penard, Y. Prin, H. Rasquier, K. Toeplitz, B. de Crépy, L. A. Smith, A. Weber, R. Boutry, R. Dubugnon among others.
In addition to his activities as permanent or guest conductor, he teaches conducting at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régionale de Paris and at the Schola Cantorum in Paris.
He is the author of "Virtuosité d’Orchestre", a treatise of all the techniques of the orchestra game - rhythm, accuracy, nuance, timbre, sonority, phrasing, articulations - for the young - professionals.
Details and Application Process
Details
This masterclass will be led by Maestro Pierre-Michel Durand and Maestro Adrian McDonnell. The goal for the participant is to take away a high-quality video-recording for their portfolio.
Participants can freely choose which movements they wish to work on and record. We recommend however to pick 1 or 2 movements from the Dvorak and 1 or 2 movements from the Tchaikovsky (according to the timings)
Preliminary Schedule
(Subject to Modification)
Day 1 :
- 09.30-10.30 : Introductory session
- 10.30-13.30 : Tchaikovsky score study and prep
- 13.30-14.30 : Lunch Break
- 14.30-17.30 : Dvorak score study and prep
- 17.30-18.00 : Conclusion and briefing for piano sessions
Day 2 :
- 10.00-13.00 : Session 1 with two pianos (15 mins/participant)
- 13.00-14.30 : Lunch break
- 14.30-17.30 : Session 2 with two pianos (15 mins/participant)
- 17.30-18.00 : Discussion and briefing for orchestra session
Day 3 :
- 10.00-13.00 : Orchestra session 1 (15 mins/participant)
- 13.00-14.30 : Lunch break
- 14.30-17.30 : Orchestra session 2 (15 mins/participant)
- 17.30-18.00 : Discussion (general feedback) and booking for next day video review session.
Day 4 :
- 10.00-13.00 : Individual comments and group video review session in projection room
- 13.00-14.30 : Lunch break
- 14.30-17.30 : Individual comments and group video review session in projection room
- 17.30-18.00 : Strategy and planning for next-day "dress" video-recording sessions
Day 5 :
- 09.30-13.30 : Video orchestra session 1 (concert attire) (20 mins/participant)
- 13.30-15.00 : Lunch break
- 15.00-19.00 : Video orchestra session 2 (concert attire) (20 mins/participant)
- 19.00-19.30 : Conclusion
- 19.30 : Groupe dinner and drinks
- Two score study sessions with both professors
- Two 15-min preparatory sessions with 2 pianos per participant
- Two professionally recorded 15-min preparatory orchestra sessions per participant
- Two video-review sessions to prepare the final orchestra sessions per participant
- Two professionally recorded 20-min orchestra sessions in concert attire for the video per participant
- (100 minutes total podium time minimum)
Maximum 10 participants
Masterclass Fee
- 1575 € Active Participants:
- 525 € deposit due with the application to reserve your spot in the masterclass
- 1050 € due starting October 1st, after application deadline.
- 275 € Auditors:
- The entirety of the fee is payable with the application
Application
In order to apply please send the following information to ajmadac@gmail.com before October 1st:
- CV
- Copy of Valid ID
- Video of yourself conducting (optional)
- Active Participant or Auditor
- Photo
Once your application sent via email, you will be receive all bank information within 24 hours.
Your reserved spot in the masterclass will be guaranteed upon reception of the 525€ deposit. The 1st deposit is only refundable if the masterclass is cancelled.
Once your spot confirmed on the program, you will then receive a questionnaire to fill out as well as all details of the masterclass (ie. exact addresses, schedule, instructions.)