Michel Plasson (born in Paris in 1933) is a French conductor. In 1962, he won the first prize in the Besançon International Conducting Competition. In 1968, he was appointed as the permanent conductor and music director of the Capitole de Toulouse Opera, and later became the artistic director in 1973. In 1974, Plasson discovered that the original Halle aux Grains had excellent acoustics. Plasson and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse have won the “Victoire de la Musique Classique” award many times. Plasson was awarded the “Conductor of the Year” award in 1993 and 1996. The recording of the opera “Carmen” by Plasson, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna won the Annual Classical Record Award.
Plasson actively advocated French music. He continuously commissioned young musicians to encourage their creations and spared no efforts to premiere their works. He recorded a large number of less-known repertoires, enabling the world to rediscover the value of these works. Plasson has conducted many world-famous orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, etc. Plasson has performed on the stage of many famous opera houses, such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, USA. Plasson is known for his interpretations of French operas. Among the famous recordings he made is Gounod’s “Faust”.
