Whenever I hear news of a meteor passing too close to the earth, I always double-check to make sure it isn’t Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Nézet-Séguin (or Yannick, as he’s usually packaged) is music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a much lauded guest at La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera.
The indefatigable maestro was one of two musicians to be invested with an Order of Canada on Friday. He and composer R. Murray Schafer were promoted to Companions, the highest of three levels – in fact, it is Canada’s highest honor (or honour, as the case may be).
I would have shared the news yesterday, but I thought the story, as reported on Norman Lebrecht’s blog, was in error, since Yannick had previously been recognized with an Order in 2012, and Schafer in 2013. I’m such a hoser.
PHOTO: The last thing this guy needs is more sugar