Jean-Claude returns to Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Jean-Claude is delighted to return to Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in November and December 2026 to conduct Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, choreographed by Fernand Nault. He will lead 22 performances with the Orchestre des Grands Ballets at Montreal’s Place des Arts, preceded by six performances on tour at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. This invitation marks his tenth engagement with the Company and follows his successful 2025 run of the same production.
New reviews
After a busy first half of the 2025-2026 season in the ballet sphere, debuting with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and returning to Scottish Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Jean-Claude’s work has been met with critical acclaim:
With Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia
“The Royal Ballet Sinfonia, under assured direction, brings Tchaikovsky’s score to life with warmth. The orchestra illuminates the familiar melodies without ever overwhelming the dancers; the balance is refined, detailed and emotionally exuberant.” – EasternEye.
“From the off, the first thrilling notes of the overture foreshadow the adventure that is to come, with Jean-Claude Picard leading the Royal Ballet Sinfonia through the iconic music with infectious enthusiasm.” – Birmingham What’s On
“The spellbinding Royal Ballet Sinfonia orchestra, led by Jean-Claude Picard, played the ballet’s symphony with enthralling precision.” – The Indiependent
With Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and the Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens
“The Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens, conducted by Jean-Claude Picard, brings out the full emotional richness of Tchaikovsky’s score. Several passages — notably the Waltz of the Snowflakes and the final Grand Pas de Deux — achieve a remarkable balance between technical precision and expressive depth, offering the audience moments of genuine grace.” – Sors-tu
“The Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens, led by Quebec-born conductor Jean-Claude Picard, appeared to be in complete symbiosis with the dancers of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (…).” – Babillard
With Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra:
“Guest conductor Jean-Claude Picard expertly leads the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra through composer Claire Cowan’s brilliant score (…)” – Winnipeg Free Press
Coverage in Le Devoir
A profile on Jean-Claude’s upcoming mandate with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Le Devoir. Read the profile.
A Third Chapter with Symphony Nova Scotia
Jean-Claude is looking forward to his third collaboration with Symphony Nova Scotia next season, conducting an elegant and contrasting program featuring Errollyn Wallen’s Photography, Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with concertmaster and soloist Renaud Lapierre, and Mendelssohn’s radiant Scottish Symphony.
Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors – France
After serving on the preselection jury in Montreal last May, Jean-Claude is honored to be invited to join the international jury of the 59th edition of the Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors this September — one of the leading competitions in the field.
Joining Scottish Ballet in Istanbul
Jean-Claude is delighted to return to Scottish Ballet, joining the company on tour in Istanbul to conduct performances of Coppélia.
New Think Piece
How can classical music, a centuries-old art form, maintain its resonance in today’s digital culture, where metrics of approval often prevail? My think piece “Classical Music in a Metric Culture” explores this question, arguing that the genre’s vitality depends on remaining anchored in its authenticity and collective artistry while purposefully engaging with the modern world—qualities that ricochet into reflections on identity, integrity, and the timeless human connection it fosters.
Music director position
For the third time this year, Jean-Claude is delighted by the invitation to guest conduct another well-established orchestra as a music director candidate, following an extensive search process involving a substantial number of applicants. Further details will be shared in due course.
Cape Symphony
Jean-Claude is honored to be invited to guest conduct the Cape Symphony as a candidate for its sought-after Music Director position, following a thorough search process that involved over 200 candidates. As such, he will be opening the orchestra’s 62nd season in September 2024, conducting a dynamic program featuring works by Adams, Frank, Strauss, and Mussorgsky/Ravel. A vibrant organization situated on beautiful Cape Cod in the USA, Cape Symphony is the second largest professional orchestra in Massachusetts, following the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
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