Laurence Equilbey
Conductor and musical director of Insula orchestra and accentus, Laurence Equilbey is acknowledged for her demanding, yet open- minded approach to her art. Her exploration of the symphonic repertory has seen her conducting the orchestras of BBC of Wales, Hessischer Rundfunk, Lyon, Bucarest, Liège, Leipzig, Brussels Philharmonic, Café Zimmermann, Akademie für alte Musik Berlin, Concerto Köln, Camerata Salzburg, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg... In 2012, with support from the Département des Hauts-de- Seine, she founded Insula orchestra, an ensemble devoted to the classical and pre-Romantic repertory, using period instruments. With accentus, Laurence Equilbey continues to interpret the great vocal music repertoire. Laurence Equilbey supports contemporary creation and she’s also Artistic Director and Director of Education at the Department for Young Singers at the Paris Conservatory.

The extensive recorded work of accentus has received wide critical acclaim. In 2014, she recorded with Insula orchestra Mozart’s Requiem on the naïve label; then Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Franco Fagioli, released in September 2015 on the Deutsche Grammophon label (Archiv Produktion). With Warner Classics–Erato, Laurence Equilbey has released Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Schubert’s orchestrated lieder (2017).

Laurence Equilbey has studied music in Paris, Vienna and London, and conducting, notably with Eric Ericson, Denise Ham, Colin Metters and Jorma Panula.

Insula Orchestra
Insula orchestra’s artistic project is built around a repertoire ranging mainly from the Classical to the Romantic eras. Mozart, Schubert or Weber form naturally the core of this repertoire with symphonic programmes as well as programmes with choir and soloists. The orchestra performs on period instruments.

Founded in 2012 by Laurence Equilbey with local government support from the Département des Hauts-de-Seine, Insula orchestra is in residence in a new artistic venue, La Seine Musicale, designed by architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines on Ile Seguin, an island in the River Seine just a few miles downstream from Paris. The orchestra is in charge of selecting part of the programme for the 1,100-seater auditorium. It also performs at other major French and international venues and leading festivals. Since its foundation, the orchestra has been invited to play at Philharmonie de Paris, Vienna’s Theater an der Wien, Salzburg Mozart Week, Basel

Stadtcasino, Elbphilharmonie, Ludwigsburg Festival and London Barbican Centre. Insula orchestra has also developed a comprehensive, innovative programme of cultural and educational initiatives across its home base in the Hauts-de-Seine department, notably to foster awareness among potential audiences who have never had the opportunity to approach classical music, as well as participatory classes for young people and schools.