Michel Plasson (born 2 October 1933, Paris, France) is a French conductor. Plasson was a student of Lazare Lévy at the

Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

. In 1962, he was a prize-winner at the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors. He studied briefly in the United States, including time with Charles Münch. He became the music director of the city of

Metz Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand ...

for 3 years. In 1968, Plasson became principal conductor of the Orchestre et Chœurs du Capitole de Toulouse. His recordings with the orchestra include orchestral works, and operettas of Jacques Offenbach, including '' Orphée aux enfers'', '' La Vie parisienne'', ''

La Périchole ''La Périchole'' () is an opéra bouffe in three acts by Jacques Offenbach. Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy wrote the French libretto based on the 1829 one act play ''Le carrosse du Saint-Sacrement'' by Prosper Mérimée, which was revived on 1 ...

'' and '' La belle Hélène'', and

Bizet Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', which has become on ...

's ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the ...

''. Plasson resigned as principal conductor in 2003 and now has the title of "Honorary Conductor", or conductor emeritus. From 1994 to 2001, he was principal conductor of the

Dresden Philharmonic The Dresdner Philharmonie (Dresden Philharmonic) is a German symphony orchestra based in Dresden. Its principal concert venue is the ''Kulturpalast''. The orchestra also performs at the Kreuzkirche, the Hochschule für Musik Dresden, and the ...

. Guest appearances include

Grand Théâtre de Genève Grand Théâtre de Genève is an opera house in Geneva, Switzerland. As with many other opera houses, the Grand Théâtre de Genève is both a venue and an institution. The venue is a majestic building, towering over Place Neuve, official ...

, De Nederlandse Opera (Amsterdam) and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Plasson's son

Emmanuel Plasson Emmanuel Plasson (born 1965) is a French conductor. Life Son of the conductor Michel Plasson, Emmanuel Plasson began piano music studies at the , before studying violin with his mother, Mercedes Plasson. He was awarded a gold medal in 1981. In ...

is also a conductor.

Selected discography

Plasson's recordings were mainly made for EMI/Virgin, and focused upon works by French composers. Among these recordings, his interpretations for the operatic works by Offenbach, Gounod and Massenet were generally considered as excellent by critics. Berlioz * '' Chansons'', with Rolando Villazón, Lauren Naouri, and

Nicolas Rivenq Nicolas Rivenq (born 1958) is a contemporary French baritone. Born in London, Rivenq studied music at the "École d'Art lyrique" of the Paris Opéra, as well as the Indiana University. He has participated in numerous productions of baroque mu ...

*'' L'Arlésienne - complete incidental music'', with Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. *''

'', with

Angela Gheorghiu Angela Gheorghiu (; ; born 7 September 1965) is a Romanian soprano, especially known for her performances in the operas of Puccini and Verdi, widely recognised by critics and opera lovers as one of the greatest sopranos of all time. Embarking h ...

, Roberto Alagna, Thomas Hampson and Inva Mula. *''

Les pêcheurs de perles ' (''The Pearl Fishers'') is an opera in three acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, to a libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré. It was premiered on 30 September 1863 at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris, and was given 18 performances ...

'', with Barbara Hendricks, John Aler and

Gino Quilico Gino Quilico OC (born April 29, 1955) is a Canadian operatic baritone. Quilico was born in Flushing, New York City in 1955, the son of baritone Louis Quilico and pianist Lina Pizzolongo. He studied at the University of Toronto Opera School f ...

. Chabrier *''Orchestral Works'' ( España (Chabrier), Suite pastorale, Joyeuse marche, excerpts from ''

Le roi malgré lui ''Le roi malgré lui'' (''King in Spite of Himself'' or ''The reluctant king'') is an opéra-comique in three acts by Emmanuel Chabrier of 1887 with an original libretto by Emile de Najac and Paul Burani. The opera is revived occasionally, but ...

''), with Barbara Hendricks ( À la musique), Susan Mentzer ( La Sulamite) and Pierre Del Vescovo (Larghetto).

Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionism in music, Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most infl ...

*''Orchestral Works'', with Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. Delibes *'' Lakmé'', with Natalie Dessay, Gregory Kunde, and José van Dam. Duruflé *''Requiem'', and other Religious Works, with Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Hampson and Marie-Claire Alain. Fauré *''Orchestral Works'', with Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. Gardel *''15 Tangos'', with Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. Gounod *''

Faust Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroa ...

'', with Richard Leech (tenor),

Cheryl Studer Cheryl Studer (born October 24, 1955) is an American dramatic soprano who has sung at many of the world's foremost opera houses. Studer has performed more than eighty roles ranging from the dramatic repertoire to roles more commonly associated ...

, José van Dam and Thomas Hampson. *'' Mireille'', with Mirella Freni,

Alain Vanzo Alain Vanzo (April 2, 1928 – January 27, 2002) was a French opera singer and composer, one of few French tenors of international standing in the postwar era. He, along with such singers as Henri Legay and the Canadian Léopold Simoneau, repres ...

and José van Dam. *Two recordings of '' Roméo et Juliette'', the first one starring Alfredo Kraus, Catherine Malfitano, José Van Dam and Gino Quilico, the second one with Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, José van Dam and Simon Keenlyside. Lalo *''Symphonie espagnole'' and ''Violin Concerto'', with Augustin Dumay. Landowski *''Montségur'', with Karan Armstrong and Gino Quilico, 1987. Magnard *Four symphonies, and orchestral works (1983, 1988, 1990) *'' Guercoeur'', with José van Dam,

Hildegard Behrens Hildegard Behrens (9 February 1937 – 18 August 2009) was a German operatic soprano with a wide repertoire including Wagner, Weber, Mozart, Richard Strauss, and Alban Berg roles. She performed at major opera houses around the world, and receive ...

and Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, 1986. Massenet *'' Don Quichotte'', with Teresa Berganza, José van Dam and Alain Fondary. *''

Hérodiade ''Hérodiade'' is an opera in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Paul Milliet and Henri Grémont, based on the novella ''Hérodias'' (1877) by Gustave Flaubert. It was first performed at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels ...

'', with Cheryl Studer, José van Dam, Thomas Hampson and

Ben Heppner Thomas Bernard Heppner (born January 14, 1956) is a Canadian tenor and broadcaster, now retired from singing, who specialized in opera and other classical works for voice. Early life and career Heppner, of Mennonite descent, was born in Mur ...

. *''

Manon ''Manon'' () is an ''opéra comique'' in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the Abbé Prévost. It was firs ...

'', with

Ileana Cotrubaș Ileana Cotrubaș (; born 9 June 1939) is a Romanian operatic soprano whose career spanned from the 1960s to the 1980s. She was much admired for her acting skills and facility for singing opera in many different languages. Life and career Cotrub ...

, Alfredo Kraus, Gino Quilico and José Van Dam. *''

Werther ''Werther'' is an opera (''drame lyrique'') in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet and Georges Hartmann (who used the pseudonym Henri Grémont). It is loosely based on Goethe's epistolary novel '' Th ...

'', with Alfredo Kraus, Tatiana Troyanos, and Matteo Manuguerra. Offenbach *'' La belle Hélène'', with Jessye Norman, John Aler, Charles Burles, Jean-Philippe Lafont and Gabriel Bacquier. *'' Orphée aux enfers'', with Mady Mesplé,

Jane Rhodes Jane Marie Andrée Rhodes (March 13, 1929 – May 7, 2011) was a French opera singer whose voice encompassed both the soprano and high mezzo-soprano ranges. Her most celebrated role was Carmen, which she sang in the opera's first ever staging at ...

Jane Berbié Jane Berbié (born 6 May 1931) is a French mezzo-soprano particularly associated with Mozart and Rossini roles. Life and career Berbié was born Jeanne Bergougne, in Villefranche-de-Lauragais, Haute-Garonne, France, and as a child was ent ...

, Charles Burles and Michel Sénéchal. *''

'', with Teresa Berganza,

José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras Coll (; born 5 December 1946), better known as José Carreras (, ), is a Spanish operatic tenor who is particularly known for his performances in the operas of Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini. Born in Barcelona, he made his de ...

and Gabriel Bacquier. *'' La Vie parisienne'', with Mady Mesplé and

Régine Crespin Régine Crespin (23 February 1927 – 5 July 2007) was a French singer who had a major international career in opera and on the concert stage between 1950 and 1989. She started her career singing roles in the dramatic soprano and spinto sopran ...

. Orff *'' Carmina Burana'', with Natalie Dessay, Thomas Hampson and

Gérard Lesne Gérard Lesne (; born 15 July 1956) is a French countertenor. He is also the founder and artistic director of the baroque music ensemble, Il Seminario Musicale. Life and career Gérard Lesne was born in Montmorency, Val-d'Oise. He was originally ...

. Ravel *''Mélodies'', with Teresa Berganza, Felicity Lott. Saint-Saëns * ''Complete Piano Concertos 1-5,'' Philippe Entremont, piano, the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Michel Plasson. 2 CD CBS Masterworks 1989. Recorded 1971 & 1978. *''Organ symphony n°3,'' op.78, ''Cyprès et Lauriers,'' op.156'', La Foi, 3 tableaux symphoniques'' op.130, the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Michel Plasson. 2 CD Emi classics 1997

Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the ...

*'' Jérusalem'', with Alan Fondary, Verónica Villarroel,

Carlo Colombara Carlo Colombara (born 1964) is an Italian operatic bass. He has sung leading roles in many major opera houses including Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Italy); the Vienna State Opera (Vienna, Austria); the Real Teatro di San Carlo (Naples, Italy); th ...

, Ivan Momirov, Federica Bragaglia, Giorgio Casciarri,

Teatro Carlo Felice The Teatro Carlo Felice is the principal opera house of Genoa, Italy, used for performances of opera, ballet, orchestral music, and recitals. It is located on the side of Piazza De Ferrari. The hall is named for King Carlo Felice, and dates fr ...

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of ...

, Tdk DVD Video (2000)

References

External links

Michel Plasson biography
at

EMI Classics EMI Classics was a record label founded by Thorn EMI in 1990 to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogues for internationally distributed classical music releases. After Thorn EMI demerged in 1996, its recorded mus ...

Interview with Michel Plasson
by Bruce Duffie, October 19, 1981 {{DEFAULTSORT:Plasson, Michel 1933 births French male conductors (music) Living people Musicians from Paris Conservatoire de Paris alumni EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists 21st-century French conductors (music) 21st-century French male musicians Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Erato Records artists