Orchestre national de Cannes & Benjamin Levy
Biographie Orchestre national de Cannes & Benjamin Levy
Benjamin Levy
is a very active conductor in concert halls and opera houses throughout Europe, Benjamin Levy has been the music director of the Orchestre de Cannes, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur since 2016.
He has recently been invited by the Rotterdams Philharmonisch, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Nederlandse Reisopera (Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Der Fliegende Holländer), Stansilavsky Theatre - Moscow (Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, Olivier Py) Moscow Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfonica de Euskadi, Umeå Opera (Sweden), Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Radio Kamer Filharmonie, Gelders Orkest, Residentie Orkest - La Haye, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Icelandic Opera (Don Giovanni and Eugene Onegin).
In France he has conducted many orchestras : Orchestre National de Montpellier, Orchestre National d’Ile-de-France, Orchestre National de Lorraine, Orchestre Colonne, Orchestre National de Lyon, Opéra National de Lyon, Opéra de Rouen, Opéra National du Rhin, Opéra de Limoges, Opéra de Saint-Etienne, Théâtre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre Colonne, Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy, Orchestre Lamoureux, Orchestre de Picardie…
Benjamin won the “Music Revelation Award of the Year” in 2005, awarded by the French Union of Music and Theatre Critics. In 2008 he won the ADAMI “Young Conductor Award”.
Benjamin Levy studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon (First Prize in percussion) and the CNSM de Paris (Prize in analysis and orchestra conducting). He also studied at the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen (USA) and at the Academia Chigiana of Sienne. He was a regular assistant of Marc Minkowski (Opéra de Paris, Oper Leipzig, Salzburg Festival…) and was appointed Assistant Conductor of the two orchestras of the Netherlands Radio.
He first drew the public’s attention with the touring opera company “Les Brigands” with which he was a fervent advocate of rarely performed works from the light opera repertoire and for which he was twice awarded a Diapasons d’Or.
Founder of the Orchestre de Chambre Pelléas, Benjamin has conducted many concerts with this collegiate management ensemble throughout France and Europe (Concertgebouw, Amsterdam – Philharmonie de Paris – Théâtre des Champs Elysées - Théâtre du Châtelet…) Their Beethoven recording with the violinist Lorenzo Gatto has been unanimously acclaimed by the press and music critics.
Orchestre National de Cannes
For nearly 50 years, the Orchestre national de Cannes has pursued a bold policy dedicated to the musical heritage of the past, present, and future. Blending excellence with accessibility, prestige with inventiveness, and tradition with modernity, the orchestra constantly seeks to engage with all audiences through its creativity and diverse repertoire. Based in the world’s film capital, it has naturally made music for the screen a key pillar of its development. Comprising 37 permanent musicians—under the musical direction of Benjamin Levy since 2016—the Orchestre national de Cannes was designated an "Orchestre national en région" (National Regional Orchestra) in 2022. Each season, it welcomes over 35,000 audience members, ranging in age from 6 months to 99 years. Performing nearly 100 concerts annually—from Cannes to the villages of the hinterland—the orchestra extends its reach throughout the Southern region and beyond, with invitations to perform on some of France’s most prestigious stages. Committed to meeting the needs of a diverse public, the orchestra continually evolves its concert formats, offering accessible, tailored programming—such as one-hour educational concerts, "Baby Concerts," musical after-work events, and "augmented" concerts—while also developing arts and cultural education initiatives for school groups, as well as for those who are geographically isolated or face other barriers to attendance. Dedicated to supporting the next generation, the orchestra nurtures future talent through its Academy and partnerships with higher education institutions for music (such as IESM, CNSMDP, and CNSMDL), contributing to the training of approximately 100 music students each year.
With a strong commitment to modern and contemporary repertoire, the Orchestre national de Cannes presents world premieres every season. In this capacity, it is a member of the "Consortium créatif"—a unique alliance of five French orchestras dedicated to promoting contemporary music. With the support of the City of Cannes, the Ministry of Culture, the Alpes-Maritimes Department, the Région SUD, the "Cercle des mécènes Andantino," and the association "Les Amis de l’Orchestre," the Orchestra brings symphonic music to a wide audience. It champions an expansive repertoire—spanning from the 17th century to the present day—in collaboration with internationally renowned conductors and soloists, while also showcasing a new generation of emerging musicians. Through its deep involvement in the city and the surrounding region, as well as its broader presence across France and in the media, the Orchestre national de Cannes serves as a major cultural force within Cannes and its territory.
