Q&A with Yannick Nézet-Séguin in Philadelphia magazine
Curtis's mentor conductor chats about diversity in orchestral music, his cats, Philly cheesesteaks, and more.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Curtis’s mentor conductor, and internationally renowned music director of the Metropolitan Opera and The Philadelphia Orchestra, is featured in the latest issue of Philadelphia magazine. The Canadian conductor and pianist recently sat down with Victor Fiorillo to discuss his busy schedule, life in Montreal and Philadelphia, musical tastes outside of classical music, poutine versus cheesesteaks, and his thoughts on cell phones ringing during concerts.
Yannick also discusses the lack of diversity in classical and orchestral music:
“I am aware that a young Black girl or boy or child going to the Orchestra can look on our stage and not see many looking like him or her or them, and that can shatter that dream right from the start. So I have been very passionate about bringing in, at least as guest artists, more and more people of color. Not just from the African American community, but also the Latin community and the Asian community. Yes, we have many from the Asian community in our Orchestra, but still, we need more as soloists. This is very important — and we need more women up on that podium.
“I am expecting that if we keep working hard at this, in 10 years, we will not need to ask that question. My real goal in life is to make sure that everyone feels welcome in the music and in the concert halls. Everybody should feel that this is for them.”
Catch Yannick on Sunday, November 6, at 7 p.m. in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Cultural Campus for “Ravel, Dukas, and More: A Night of French Music,“ as he conducts the extraordinary musicians of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra and rising stars of the Curtis Opera Theatre.
Read the Philadelphia magazine Q&A HERE.
Visit Yannick Nézet-Séguin‘s official website HERE.