A valued collaborator with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Jean-Claude is looking forward to his return to the Company for two upcoming engagements. Firstly, he will be conducting a program showcasing Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana“, choreographed by Edward Clug. Subsequently, he will conduct the beloved classic “Giselle” by Adolphe Adam, featuring choreography by Ivan Cavallari based on Marius Petipa‘s original work.
Jean-Claude enjoyed a successful 4th visit to the Victoria Symphony last 1st of October, this time stepping in at short notice. The program included Ravel’s “Le Tombeau de Couperin”, Nielsen’s Flute Concerto with soloist Arin Sarkissian, and Haydn’s 85th Symphony “La Reine”.
Following Jean-Claude’s last concert at the helm of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Le Nouvelliste wrote, in reaction to their interpretation of Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2:
“Under the spirited direction of Jean-Claude Picard, the OSTR navigated into the human soul with fervor and ease. The conductor seemed to take a keen pleasure in making the orchestra disappear at the end of some chapters in pianissimos that betrayed only but the most imperceptible vibrations in the air. A few moments later, to mark the accents of anger intended by Nielsen, the maestro gave the impression that his feet were losing contact with the ground. The orchestra reciprocated straight away.” – March 2023
Jean-Claude is delighted to be appointed Visiting Artist – Guest Lecturer in Conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Jean-Claude obtained glowing reviews last May for his role in the performances of “The Scandal at Mayerling”, known as one of the most challenging ballet to conduct:
“Every single step, especially en pointe is intricately placed in perfect precision to each note of the lush, lyrical score by Franz Liszt. Jean-Claude Picard conducts the superb Scottish Ballet Orchestra with vivacious tempo and flowing fluidity.” Edinburgh Guide, May 2022
“Franz Liszt’s lush but relentless score is just as demanding on the Scottish Ballet Orchestra as MacMillan’s choreography is on the dancers. They deliver it flawlessly under the baton of conductor Jean-Claude Picard.” The Press and Journal, May 2022
“The music is by Liszt, tastefully orchestrated by Martin Yates and played heroically by the musicians of Scottish Ballet’s orchestra in repertoire that is a long way from their regular diet. Jean-Claude Picard, the company’s music director, shapes it with power and punch.” Seen and Heard International, May 2022.
Jean-Claude looks forward to conducting the world premiere of “Coppélia” with Scottish Ballet at the Edinburgh International Festival this August.
Jean-Claude Picard will join Les Grands Ballets Canadiens on several occasions in the coming months; first to conduct “Romeo and Juliet” by Cavallari/Prokofiev, then “Sleeping Beauty” by Haydée/Tchaikovsky. These invitations follow his successful return to the Company last October.
Jean-Claude is delighted to join Calgary Opera to conduct one of their Opera Labs around a brand new work by Canadian composer Dr Kelly-Marie Murphy: “Arriving at the Fire”.
Following Jean-Claude’s second visit to the Orchestre symphonique de Québec last December 2020, “Le Soleil” wrote: “Jean-Claude Picard…combines all the essential qualities of a conductor: precision of gesture, analytical intelligence and eloquence of expression. In the first movement [Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2], Picard takes the music head-on with undeniable commitment from start to finish… In slow movements he shows remarkable relaxation and a real sense of listening. [In the Strauss Oboe Concerto, Picard] proves to be a high-class accompanist managing the many subtle tempo nuances in Strauss’ score sensitively. “
Jean-Claude made his debut at the Festival Bach Montréal in November 2020. He conducted the Orchestre du Festival in a program entirely devoted to the timeless musical genius of the famous German composer. Reviewing the concert, Le Devoir wrote: “The new conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Jean-Claude Picard, also conducted the 1st Orchestral Suite and proved that the Festival was right to have dared to invite non-specialists in Baroque music.”
