Philippe Jaroussky

Conductor
Countertenor

Germany

There are countertenors, and then there is Mr. Jaroussky.
(The New York Times)

The countertenor Philippe Jaroussky has established himself over more than 25 years as one of the leading figures on the international music scene and a pioneering artist for his voice type. Numerous prestigious awards attest to his remarkable career, including several distinctions at the Victoires de la Musique Classique in France (Best New Artist in 2004 and Artist of the Year in 2007 and 2010). In Germany he was named Singer of the Year—the first countertenor to receive this distinction—at the Echo Klassik Awards in 2008 and again in 2016. In 2009 he also received the award for Best Recording together with L'Arpeggiata.

Jaroussky has had the great privilege of collaborating with the world’s leading Baroque orchestras, appearing at the most prestigious festivals and in the foremost concert halls worldwide.

His extensive Baroque repertoire ranges from the refined expressive world of Claudio Monteverdi, Giovanni Felice Sances and Luigi Rossi to the dazzling virtuosity of George Frideric Handel and Antonio Vivaldi. At the same time, he is an indefatigable musical explorer and has played a major role in the rediscovery of composers such as Antonio Caldara, Nicola Porpora, Agostino Steffani, Georg Philipp Telemann and Johann Christian Bach.

Always eager to explore new repertoire—not only within the world of the “castrati” but also in the music of Ernest Chausson and the art song repertoire—Jaroussky has demonstrated his remarkable stylistic sensitivity. He first did so alongside the pianist Jérôme Ducros and more recently in collaboration with the guitarist Thibaut Garcia.

His passion for contemporary music has led to several world premieres. He premiered a song cycle by Marc-André Dalbavie based on sonnets by Louise Labé. In June 2024 he also took part in the premiere of Dalbavie’s opera Mélancolie de la Résistance at the Berlin State Opera. In addition, he performed the world premiere of the opera Only the Sound Remains, written especially for him by Kaija Saariaho, both at the Dutch National Opera and at the Opéra national de Paris.

In the 2019/2020 season Jaroussky celebrated the 20th anniversary of his stage career with several special events: the unveiling of his wax figure at the Musée Grévin in Paris, the publication of his biography Seule la musique compte (“Only Music Matters”), and the release of the anthology album Passion Philippe Jaroussky.

In June 2025, Jaroussky marked his 25th anniversary on stage as a singer, violinist, pianist, and conductor with a major gala concert alongside many longtime collaborators at the sold-out Théâtre des Champs‑Élysées in Paris. In the same season, an extensive tour with L'Arpeggiata celebrated the 15th anniversary of his collaboration with the ensemble. Also noteworthy was the production Hotel Metamorphosis at the Salzburg Festival, in which he appeared as soloist alongside Cecilia Bartoli in a staging by Barrie Kosky.

In 2002 Jaroussky founded the ensemble Ensemble Artaserse, with which he performs internationally and has recorded numerous albums.

In March 2021 he made his debut as a conductor with Artaserse in Alessandro Scarlatti’s oratorio Il Primo Omicidio, a program presented among others at the Salzburg Festival and at the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie, which subsequently hosted Jaroussky and Artaserse in residence for three seasons.

His conducting career has since developed rapidly, with concerts in Paris, Lyon, Montpellier, and Budapest as well as appearances at the Festival de l'Épau and the Handel Festival Halle. In the 2021/2022 season he conducted his first staged opera from the pit at the Théâtre des Champs‑Élysées and later in Montpellier: Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel. In 2023 this was followed by another staged production in Montpellier of the rarely performed opera Orfeo by Antonio Sartorio, which subsequently toured throughout France.

In 2025 he takes a further step as a conductor with Mitridate, re di Ponto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—first in concert form with the Cappella Cracoviensis and then in a staged production in Montpellier with the Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie.

The 2025/26 season once again reflects his broad artistic curiosity: concerts in Japan with Thibaut Garcia, a tour conducting Ensemble Artaserse in Alcina (Paris, Barcelona, Montpellier, Madrid), and another tour in which he sings and conducts Italian cantatas (Paris, Berlin, Vancouver, Québec, Boston, among others). He will also perform the alto part in Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi in Salzburg under the direction of Christina Pluhar. At the Zurich Opera House he will also conduct Aci, Galatea e Polifemo by George Frideric Handel with the ensemble La Scintilla.

In his extensive discography, particular attention should be given to his recordings with Jean‑Christophe Spinosi and the Ensemble Matheus as part of the celebrated Vivaldi Edition released by the label Naïve Records. For many years Jaroussky has been an exclusive artist with Erato (Warner Classics), where he has released numerous award-winning recordings, particularly with Ensemble Artaserse. Their next album, Il Mio Vivaldi, will be released in autumn 2026, followed by an international tour.

Since 2017 the Académie Philippe Jaroussky has been dedicated to supporting young musicians from disadvantaged cultural backgrounds through an original, supportive, and demanding training program that has become an important presence in the musical landscape.

In 2019 Philippe Jaroussky was appointed Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.

Get further information under: www.philippejaroussky.fr

Season 2026/2027

Please use this by Weigold & Böhm authorized Biography only.

Contacts

Tobias Weigold-Wimmer

Managing Director

tobias@weigold-boehm.de

+49 81 93 23 61 200
Hannah Kilian

Project Manager

hannah@weigold-boehm.de

+49 81 93 23 61 205

Photos

Jaroussky ©Edouard Brane
Jaroussky 1 ©Simon Fowler
Jaroussky 2 ©Simon Fowler
Jaroussky 3 ©Simon Fowler
Jaroussky 2 ©Simon Fowler / Erato Warner Classics
Jaroussky 3 ©Simon Fowler / Erato Warner Classics
Jaroussky 4 ©Simon Fowler / Erato Warner Classics
Jaroussky ©Simon Fowler

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