A multifaceted artist and absolute master of the bassoon, an instrument once considered enigmatic and tempestuous, Pascal Gallois, soloist, concert performer, and teacher, is now establishing himself as a conductor, the natural culmination of his musical commitment.
Three events mark a decisive turning point in his career: the world premiere of Luciano Berio's “Sequenza XII” (1995), the world premiere of the bassoon version of Pierre Boulez's “Dialogue de l'ombre double” (1995), and the world premiere of Wolfgang Rihm's “Psalmus” for orchestra and bassoon (2007). Directly involved in the creative process of these three works, Pascal Gallois has gained a broader perspective and thus moved closer to the mindset of a conductor.
Certainly, artists like Maurizio Pollini have continued to invite him to perform as a soloist in exceptional concerts around the world, and his career is punctuated by highlights, such as the tribute he paid to Pierre Boulez for his 85th birthday (featuring a unique Boulez/Beethoven program with clarinetist Jörg Widmann), or the tribute he paid to Henri Dutilleux on the occasion of his 95th birthday. But he now enjoys organizing his own events and conducting the orchestra.
Pascal Gallois conducts on stage and records the works of his contemporaries with equal enthusiasm, from Pierre Boulez to György Kurtág, from Luciano Berio to Olga Neuwirth, to name just a few.
A committed community artist, Pascal Gallois founded Les Musicales de Quiberon in 2015, a yearly festival where classical music and modernity converge. While conducting is now central to his life as a musician, it is to pursue his self-imposed mission: to share his passion for music and offer a resolutely personal interpretation of both the works of his contemporaries and the classical repertoire. He has recently conducted the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, the Orchestre National de Bretagne, the Münchener Kammerorchester, and the North Macedonia Philharmonic. His next engagement will be with the Chilean National Symphony Orchestra.
For Pascal Gallois, conducting means presenting the history of music in all its contemporary relevance.
May 2026
May 2026
