Pierre Hétu facts for kids
Pierre Hétu (born April 22, 1936, in Montreal – died December 3, 1998, in Montreal) was a talented Canadian conductor and pianist. He was known for leading many orchestras and helping young musicians.
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Early Life and Musical Training
Pierre Hétu began his music journey by studying at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal from 1955 to 1957. He learned piano from Germaine Malépart. He also studied at the University of Montreal, where he learned about music history and how music works.
Studying in Paris
From 1958 to 1962, Pierre Hétu received a special grant from the Quebec government. This allowed him to study in Paris, France. There, he continued his piano lessons and started learning how to conduct an orchestra. He studied with famous teachers like Edouard Lindenberg and Louis Fourestier.
Forming the Trio Canadien
In 1960, while in Paris, Pierre Hétu helped create a music group called the "Trio canadien." He played the piano, and the group also included a flutist and an oboist. They toured in 1962 and 1963, sharing their music with many people.
Winning a Conducting Award
Pierre Hétu was very good at conducting. In 1961, he won first place in a big competition for young conductors in Besançon, France. He beat 34 other talented musicians! He also kept learning from other great conductors like Charles Munch and Hans Swarowsky during summer programs.
A Rising Star Conductor
Pierre Hétu made his first big appearance in Canada in 1963. He conducted the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO) in a concert. People were very impressed. A music critic named Claude Gingras wrote that Pierre Hétu was "a born conductor."
Leading Major Orchestras
After his debut, Pierre Hétu became an assistant conductor for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He helped lead many concerts until 1968. He also helped new music pieces be performed for the first time, like André Prévost's Fantasmes and Maurice Dela's Projection. He even conducted music for the opening of Expo 67, a big world fair.
Pierre Hétu then became the music director for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra in Michigan from 1968 to 1972. He was also an associate conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. From 1973 to 1980, he was the artistic director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He was a very busy and important conductor!
Guest Conducting Around the World
Pierre Hétu was invited to conduct orchestras all over Canada and in other countries. In 1976, he conducted the JM World Orchestra at the opening concert of the Olympic Games. He also led orchestras in Europe, including in Brussels, Lausanne, and Strasbourg. He conducted many operas, which are plays where the story is sung with an orchestra.
In 1977, he won the Canadian Music Council prize for his excellent conducting of Strauss's opera Salome.
Later Career and Legacy
From 1991 to 1994, Pierre Hétu shared his knowledge by teaching conducting at the University of Toronto. He also conducted the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, helping young musicians learn and grow.
He continued to conduct Canada's top orchestras and appeared on CBC radio and TV. Sadly, he had to reduce his appearances in the mid-1990s due to health reasons. His very last performances were in October 1998, when he conducted the opera Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns in New Orleans.
Pierre Hétu passed away on December 3, 1998, in Montreal. He left behind his wife, Michelle Rosich, and his two daughters, Gisèle Hétu and Lorraine Manifold. He is remembered as one of Canada's most important and inspiring conductors.
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