A French horn player among the most distinguished of his generation, Misha Cliquennois stands out for the elegance of his playing, the nobility of his tone, and his high musical standards.
He trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in the class of André Cazalet, where he was awarded a First Prize unanimously. At an early stage in his career, he was invited to join the prestigious Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester before becoming a member of the renowned Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. These formative experiences enabled him to collaborate with some of the world’s greatest conductors and to gain international recognition.
He later became principal horn of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, performing on the world’s leading international stages and developing a musical approach that is both refined and deeply expressive.
He joined the Orchestra of the Opéra national de Paris in 1999 and was appointed Principal Horn in 2015. In this position, he contributes fully to the excellence of the institution, taking part in numerous major productions from the operatic and symphonic repertoire under the baton of leading contemporary conductors.
A sought-after chamber musician and respected pedagogue, Misha Cliquennois also performs regularly in chamber music festivals and shares his art with the same passion that characterizes his career as a performer.
