Entremont, Philippe

Entremont, Philippe, eminent French pianist and conductor; b. Rheims, June 6, 1934. He began his training with his parents, both of whom were musicians. After piano lessons with Rose Aye and Marguerite Long (1944–16), he entered the Paris Cons, as a pupil of Jean Doyen, winning the premier prix for solfege at 12, for chamber music at 14, and for piano at 15. At 17, he made his formal debut as a pianist in Barcelona. In 1951 he won 5th prize and in 1953 the joint second prize in the Long-Thibaud Competition in Paris, and in 1952 he also was a finalist in the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium Competition in Brussels. In 1953 he won accolades for his first engagements in the U.S. and thereafter toured with notable success as a virtuoso around the world. From 1967 he also pursued a career as a conductor. From 1976 to 1991 he was chief conductor of the Vienna Chamber Orch., and thereafter its lifetime honorary conductor. He also served as music adviser and principal conductor (1980–81) and as music director (1981–86) of the New Orleans Phil. He then was principal conductor (1986–87), music director-designate (1987–88), and music director (1988–89) of the Denver Sym. Orch. From 1988 to 1990 he was music director of the Colonne Orch. in Paris. He also was principal guest conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Orch. in Amsterdam from 1993. His performances, both as a pianist and conductor, reveal a discriminating Gallic sensibility

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire