The Orchestre Métropolitain (OM) is one of Quebec’s key cultural ambassadors. From the very start, since its inception in 1981, the OM has built a unique relationship with the community through high-impact initiatives. Over the last 20 years, the Orchestre has grown alongside its artistic director and principal conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who in 2019, announced that he had signed on for an exceptional lifetime contract with the OM.
This special relationship allows the performance of 50 concerts annually at the Maison Symphonique and all over the city. The OM also puts on webcast and open-air concerts. The ensemble is known for its bold presence, authenticity, and community engagement, such as its educational initiatives The OM for Schools and The OM for Future Talent, which strive to cultivate a passion for music among young people.
The OM also regularly collaborates with other high-caliber cultural organizations in Quebec, notably with the Opéra de Montréal.
Following the success of their 2017 European tour, the OM and Yannick Nézet-Séguin travelled to the US in 2019 with soprano Joyce DiDonato, winning over audiences in Chicago, Ann Arbor, New York, and Philadelphia.
The winner of multiple national awards, the OM has recorded some 20 performances with the Canadian ATMA Classique label, including Bruckner’s symphonies, which were released in 2018. The Orchestre has also collaborated with Deutsche Grammophon to release two albums with renowned singers Rolando Villazón and Ildar Abdrazakov (Duets in 2017 and Verdi in 2019).