EN
Vincent David
Composer, conductor and saxophonist
In recent seasons, Vincent David has consolidated his multifaceted and robust career as a soloist, composer, and conductor, leading a new artistic era in avant-garde music on the international stage. While continuing his fruitful relationships with the leading institutions of today's musical landscape, his exceptional career has been honored by the French Académie des Beaux-Arts with the prestigious "Grand Prix Artistique" from the Fondation Simone et Cino Del Duca, as well as the "Grand Prix Lycéens des Compositeurs" for his acclaimed work In Pulse.
Vincent David made a natural transition toward conducting and large-scale composition following an outstanding international career as one of the world's foremost solo saxophonists, having revolutionized the aesthetic and technical capabilities of his instrument. His close and deep connection since 1998 with the Ensemble Intercontemporain—where he has regularly performed under the baton of mentors such as Pierre Boulez, Jonathan Nott, David Robertson, and Péter Eötvös—is also illustrated through the creation of his own works, such as Artefact for ensemble or De vif bois for solo cello, written for Éric-Maria Couturier. Added to this catalogue are prestigious commissions from internationally renowned chamber music groups, such as the Quatuor Tana and the Trio Catch.
It was indeed alongside Pierre Boulez that his sensitivity as a conductor was forged, having attended his conducting classes for two years. This solid training has led him to conduct, among others, the Harbin Symphony Orchestra in China, Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, the Orquesta Ciudad d’Almería in Spain, and the Orquestra Clàssica d'Andorra. This facet articulates organically with his impressive trajectory as an international soloist, which has led him to perform alongside premier orchestras such as the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Orchestre National de Strasbourg, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the Tapiola Sinfonietta, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, the MAV Orchestra of Budapest, the US Navy Band of Washington, the Camerata Aberta of São Paulo, Musica Assoluta of Hanover, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria.
In the realm of creation and avant-garde music, he has performed major works written especially for him, such as Pierre Boulez's Dialogue de l’ombre double, Bruno Mantovani's Troisième Round, or Martin Matalon's Trame XIII, collaborating closely with creators of the stature of Luciano Berio, Gérard Grisey, and Alberto Posadas. His versatility has also led him to head ambitious projects in the fields of improvised music and jazz alongside benchmark musicians such as Jean-Charles Richard and Stéphane Guillaume. His rich discography includes recordings for prominent labels such as Aeon, Nomadmusic, and Klarthe—an intense activity that he balances with his professor chair at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles and his acclaimed masterclasses worldwide.
