Paul Connelly

Paul Connelly is recognised globally as one of the most distinguished ballet conductors of our time. He studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston and made his conducting debut with George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess during a tour with the Houston Grand Opera. In 1980, he was invited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to become Principal Conductor of the American Ballet Theatre. During his tenure, he also conducted performances for the New York City Ballet and high-profile galas such as Nureyev and Friends and Baryshnikov and Co.. Additionally, he was a guest conductor for the National Ballet of Canada.

While at the American Ballet Theatre, he contributed to several film and television projects, including Don Quixote. His operatic engagements during this period included Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice, Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, and Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.

Following his success conducting a ballet gala at the Vienna State Opera, he was entrusted with Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, a triumph that marked the start of an intensive conducting career in Europe. He received invitations to conduct at major venues such as the Opéra de Nice, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Den Norske Opera, the Royal Ballet in London and Birmingham, Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam, and La Scala in Milan. At La Scala, under the invitation of Riccardo Muti, he conducted a range of productions including Il Turco in Italia, The Magic Flute, and Don Giovanni. His work extended to numerous ballet productions, many of which were filmed, including John Neumeier’s Sylvia, Patrice Bart’s Giselle, and a Roland Petit ballet evening at the Paris Opera.

Paul Connelly resides primarily in Paris, where he regularly conducts performances for the Paris Opera Ballet and serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre Colonne. Despite his Parisian base, he is frequently invited to conduct across Europe, showcasing a vast repertoire with prestigious ensembles and renowned orchestras.