Julien Masmondet

Julien Masmondet is amongst the most-respected French conductors of his generation, with a reputation that was affirmed last seasons by the universal critical acclaim garnered following his hugely successful innovative concerts and operas performed by the ensemble he founded, Les Apaches ! .

Julien has established an international career appearing as guest conductor with major orchestras such as Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Tonkünstler Orchester, New Russia State Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne, Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo or Orchestra del Teatro Filarmonica di Verona.

Praised for his instinctive musicality, his energy and his ability to inspire musicians in a wide repertoire, he multiplies the projects conducting a large symphonic and operatic repertoire alongside new contemporary works and defending lesser-known works by French composers. Recognized for his strong commitment to new music and for its inventive programming, Julien Masmondet regularly commissions and creates works by living composers while imagining innovative concert formats and investing in unusual places to reach new audiences.

In this creative dynamic, he founded Les Apaches !, one of the most exciting and adventurous ensembles that emerge in France in the recent years. With a collective of artists, he establishes a constant dialogue between today’s creation and the works of the past and enriches each project with artistic crossovers. He regularly collaborates with videographers, directors, actors, choreographers, virtual reality artists and writers on unique shows. The premiere of Street Art, a live performance of Steve Reich’s music, three contemporary composers and free-runners, captured by Arte concert in Musée d’Orsay, caused a sensation. He’s preparing an immersive Ravel project, that will premiere in Paris in 2025 at the Théâtre du Chatelet and on international tour.

Julien has recorded several records for labels such as Sony Music, Warner Classics, Aparté Music, Claves records, conducting the Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. His last recording La Tragédie de Salomé by Florent Schmitt with Les Apaches on B’Records is acclaimed by critics and received multiple awards (Diapason d’or, TTTT Télérama, Times…).

Sharing and teaching is an important part of Julien’s approach, which has led to his involvement in projects which strive to reach a greater number of people, for example music for young audiences, concerts in prison, or for the benefit of disadvantaged groups. He is also conducting professor at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris “Alfred Cortot” where he leads a class of international students in the tradition inherited from Charles Munch, Jean Fournet and Pierre Dervaux.

Born in Paris, Julien Masmondet studied composition and conducting at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris “Alfred Cortot” where he obtained a diploma in orchestral conducting in 2002 in the class of Dominique Rouits. He then continued with Yoel Levi in Israel and with Benjamin Zander at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Following a very successful three-season term at the Orchestre de Paris from 2011 to 2014 as assistant conductor to Paavo Järvi, who remains one of his most active supporters, Julien has worked with such leaders as Herbert Blomstedt, Louis Langrée, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Yutaka Sado, David Zinman and Bertrand de Billy.