Conductor and musical director of Insula orchestra and accentus, Laurence Equilbey is acknowledged for her demanding yet open-minded approach to her art.

Her exploration of the symphonic repertory has seen her conducting the orchestras of BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Hessischer Rundfunk, Lyon, Liège, Leipzig, Brussels Philharmonic, Copenhagen, Gulbenkian, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Concerto Köln, Camerata Salzburg, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonia, Handel and Haydn society in Boston, etc.

In 2012, with support from the Département des Hauts-de-Seine, she founded Insula orchestra, an ensemble on period instruments. The orchestra is in residence in La Seine Musicale, close to Paris, and is in charge of selecting part of the programme for the 1,150-seater Auditorium.

Laurence Equilbey has recently conducted Gounod’s Bloody Nun (Opéra Comique), Weber’s Freischütz staged by the Cie 14:20 (Théâtre de Caen, Grand Théâtre de Provence, Bozar de Bruxelles, Theater an der Wien, Barbican center, Festival de Ludwigsbourg, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées).

At La Seine Musicale, Laurence Equilbey conducts staged concerts with artists from different backgrounds. For example, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung staged by La Fura dels Baus (also given in Grand Théâtre de Provence, Theater an der Wien, Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Lincoln Center in New York), the Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” with a participative staging by La Fura dels Baus, Mozart’s Requiem staged by Yoann Bourgeois, a project based on Le Jeune homme et la Mort with Marie-Agnès Gillot, Mozart’s Mass in C staged by Pascale Ferran and Mozart’s Thamos, King of Egypt staged by Yannis Kokkos. In May 2021, Laurence Equilbey explores with Antonin Baudry the ultimate ballads of Schumann (La Nuit des Rois).

Laurence Equilbey is associated to the Grand Théâtre d’Aix-en-Provence and pursues a privileged relation with the Philharmonie de Paris.

Under Laurence Equilbey’s artistic direction, the choir accentus interprets great vocal music repertoire, ranging from a cappella works to stage productions and from Baroque to Contemporary periods. In July 2019, Laurence Equilbey and accentus gather together in Salzburg for a Dusapin/Goubaïdoulina program, with Camerata Salzburg and the österreichisches ensemble für neue music. Laurence Equilbey supports contemporary creation too. She is also Artistic Director and Director of Education at the Department for Young Singers at the Paris Conservatory.

Laurence Equilbey and Insula orchestra recently dedicated two records to Beethoven (Warner Classics – Erato). Two new recordings with Insula orchestra are being released this season: Weber’s Der Freischütz (also out on DVD) and Magic Mozart (Warner Classics – Erato).

Laurence Equilbey has studied music in Paris, Vienna and London, and conducting notably with Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Eric Ericson, Denise Ham, Colin Metters and Jorma Panula.