Emmanuelle Haïm
Encyclopedia
Emmanuelle Haïm
Emmanuelle Haïm (born in Paris
, France
, 1967) is a French
harpsichord
ist and conductor
with a particular interest in early music
and Baroque music
.
Haïm grew up in Paris, and was raised as a Catholic, though her father is Jewish. She spent 13 years studying at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris
. William Christie
invited her to work with his ensemble Les Arts Florissants
, as a continuo player and musical assistant. On Christie's recommendation, she later worked as a coach and assistant to Simon Rattle
, as well as a guest artist with Rattle.
After several years, she left Les Arts Florissants to become a conductor. In 2000, she formed her own baroque era ensemble, Le Concert d’Astrée. She and her ensemble have performed at such venues as the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
(Paris) and the Barbican Centre
(London).
Haïm's 2001 conducting debut with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, in a production of Handel's Rodelinda, brought her to wider artistic notice. She returned to Glyndebourne in 2006 to conduct their production of Giulio Cesare. On November 2, 2007, she became the first woman to conduct at the Lyric Opera of Chicago
, conducting Giulio Cesare. In January 2010 she was fired from the Paris Opéra production of Mozart's Idomeneo after the orchestra complained of aesthetic and stylistic differences. She was reinstated for a new production of Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie, but with her own Concert d'Astrée in the pit.
Haïm has a recording contract with Virgin Classics. Her collaborators have included Natalie Dessay
, Ian Bostridge
, Rolando Villazón
, Susan Graham
, Sara Mingardo
and Laurent Naouri
.
Emmanuelle Haïm (born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, 1967) is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
ist and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
with a particular interest in early music
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
and Baroque music
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
.
Haïm grew up in Paris, and was raised as a Catholic, though her father is Jewish. She spent 13 years studying at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. William Christie
William Christie (musician)
William Lincoln Christie is an American-born French conductor and harpsichordist. He is noted as a specialist in baroque repertoire and as the founder of the ensemble Les Arts Florissants....
invited her to work with his ensemble Les Arts Florissants
Les Arts Florissants (ensemble)
Les Arts Florissants is a Baroque musical ensemble in residence at the Théâtre de Caen in Caen, France. The organization was founded by conductor William Christie in 1979. The ensemble derives its name from the 1685 opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The organization consists of a chamber orchestra...
, as a continuo player and musical assistant. On Christie's recommendation, she later worked as a coach and assistant to Simon Rattle
Simon Rattle
Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE is an English conductor. He rose to international prominence as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and since 2002 has been principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic ....
, as well as a guest artist with Rattle.
After several years, she left Les Arts Florissants to become a conductor. In 2000, she formed her own baroque era ensemble, Le Concert d’Astrée. She and her ensemble have performed at such venues as the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
(Paris) and the Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
(London).
Haïm's 2001 conducting debut with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, in a production of Handel's Rodelinda, brought her to wider artistic notice. She returned to Glyndebourne in 2006 to conduct their production of Giulio Cesare. On November 2, 2007, she became the first woman to conduct at the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
, conducting Giulio Cesare. In January 2010 she was fired from the Paris Opéra production of Mozart's Idomeneo after the orchestra complained of aesthetic and stylistic differences. She was reinstated for a new production of Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie, but with her own Concert d'Astrée in the pit.
Haïm has a recording contract with Virgin Classics. Her collaborators have included Natalie Dessay
Natalie Dessay
Natalie Dessay is a French coloratura soprano. She dropped the silent "h" in her first name in honor of Natalie Wood when she was in grade school and subsequently simplified the spelling of her surname outside France...
, Ian Bostridge
Ian Bostridge
Ian Bostridge CBE is an English tenor, well known for his performances as an opera singer and as a song recitalist.-Early life and education:...
, Rolando Villazón
Rolando Villazón
Emilio Rolando Villazón Mauleón is a Mexican tenor. He settled in France and in 2007 became a French citizen.-Early life and education:...
, Susan Graham
Susan Graham
Susan Graham is an American mezzo-soprano.Raised in Midland, Texas, she is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School of Music. She studied the piano for 13 years...
, Sara Mingardo
Sara Mingardo
Sara Mingardo is an Italian classical contralto who has had an active international career in concerts and operas since the 1980s. Her complete recording of Anna in Hector Berlioz's Les Troyens won a Gramophone Award and both the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording and the Grammy Award for Best...
and Laurent Naouri
Laurent Naouri
Laurent Naouri is a French bass-baritone. Initially beginning his education at the École Centrale de Lyon, Naouri decided to concentrate on opera in 1986 and continued his musical studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.His professional career in France began in 1992 with...
.