Tortelier, Yan Pascal
Tortelier, Yan Pascal
Tortelier, Yan Pascal, French conductor, son of Paul Tortelier; b. Paris, April 19, 1947. At the age of 12, he began studying harmony and counterpoint with Boulanger; after winning the premier prix for violin at the Paris Cons. when he was 14, he made his debut as a soloist in the Brahms Double Concerto in London (1962). Following conducting studies with Ferrara at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena (1973), he served as assoc. conductor of the Orchestre du Capitole in Toulouse (1974-83); also conducted opera there and appeared as a guest conductor in other French cities. In 1978 he made his British debut as a guest conductor with the Royal Phil. of London. In 1985 he made his U.S. debut as a guest conductor with the Seattle Sym. Orch., and subsequently appeared with other North American orchs. In 1989 he became principal conductor and artistic director of the Ulster Orch. in Belfast. In 1992 he became principal conductor of the BBC Phil. in Manchester.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire