Bertrand de Billy
President of the Conducting Jury 2025
Biography
Franco-Swiss conductor Bertrand de Billy served as Music Director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona from 1999 to 2004, and from 2002 to 2010, he held the same position at the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. During the 2024–2025 season, he was a regular guest at the Vienna State Opera, where he conducted Roméo et Juliette, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Die Fledermaus, Werther, as well as a new production of The Magic Flute. He also returned to the Berlin Staatsoper with Nabucco, and conducted renowned orchestras such as the Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and the Bamberger Symphoniker, among others.
August 2025 - Full biography on debilly.com
Events
FINAL ROUND PART 1 - ORCHESTRE DE LA SUISSE ROMANDE
- Participants: 3 finalists
- Format: non-public rehearsals and concert
Repertoire
- B. Bartók : Suite du mandarin merveilleux (20')
- C. Debussy: Ibéria (20')
- G. Mahler: Totenfeier (25')
- S. Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (free choice excerpts, max. 25')
- R. Strauss: Don Juan (20')
- I. Stravinsky: The Firebird, Suite 1919 (20')
With the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
Each candidate must choose and prepare two works from the list. At the beginning of the Semi-Final Round, a draw will determine which of the two chosen works is to be conducted if selected for the Final Round. The finalists will conduct two rehearsal sessions (to be confirmed), a dress rehearsal and the Final Round concert, to be held at Geneva's Victoria Hall on 13 November.
Rehearsals and dress rehearsal are closed to the public.
FINAL ROUND 1 - ORCHESTRE DE LA SUISSE ROMANDE
Dates: 10-11 November 2026
Participants: 3 finalists
Format: non-public rehearsals and concert
Repertoire: 3 finalist works from the Composition Competition
This round is both the Final Round of the Composition Competition and the first Final of the Conducting Competition. The subject of the 2026 Composition Competition is a work for symphonic orchestra; the conducting finalists must prepare the three composition finalists' works, which will be announced in the spring of 2026.
At the beginning of the finals, a draw will determine which of the three works each finalist will conduct.
The finalists will conduct two rehearsal sessions (to be confirmed), a dress rehearsal and the Final Round concert, to be held at Geneva's Victoria Hall on 11 November.
Rehearsals and dress rehearsal are closed to the public.