It is in a musically active region of France that Olivier Derbesse started playing the clarinet. He first studied clarinet with Michel Corenflos at the Roubaix Conservatoire and soon integrated the wind orchestra of his hometown. At the age of 17, he joined the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he studied with Guy Deplus and Michel Arrignon. His studies in this prestigious school led him to develop a huge interest in orchestral playing.
Two years later, Emmanuel Krivine chose him to be Eb Solo Clarinet of the Orchestre National de Lyon. In 2001, Christoph Eschenbach nominated him as Eb Solo Clarinet of the Orchestre de Paris. His career as an orchestra Player led him to play not only in the Philharmonie de Paris, but also in prestigious concerts halls all over the world: in the Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Tokyo Suntory Hall or New York Carnegie Hall. He also worked with renowned conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Bernard Haitink, Esa-Pekka Salonen or Wolfgang Sawalisch.
Deeply passionate about chamber music, Olivier Derbesse is often invited to play at festivals such as Musicades de Lyon, the Frisch Festrichen Academy in Basel, or the Nancyphonies. He is also cofounder of Les Flamants Noirs a Basset Horn trio, developing the magnificent repertoire of this too poorly known instrument.
Very open to other musical genres, Olivier Derbesse frequently plays with ensembles such as Sirba Octet, Nijadell or Archimusic, with which he plays Klezmer, Jazz, Tzigane or Celtic Music.
Convinced by the idea of passing on to younger generations, Olivier Derbesse teaches clarinet at the Paris Conservatoire du XIX° Arrondissement.
Photo credit: Céline Rabaud
