News
[LAST MINUTE JUMP IN]Félix Benati's debuts with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-FranceConcerto pour alto, B. Bartok (soloist : Antoine Tamestit)Prélude à l'Après-Midi d'un Faune, C. DebussyLa Mer, C. Debussy30.04.25
IXth International Jorma Panula Conducting Competition2nd Prize (1st Prize not awarded)Orchestra Prize
"Felix Benati, in addition to the musical and technical brilliance in conducting,introduced a somehow extraordinary inner world that inspired me (and the whole orchestra)to do our best to find the expression what he was looking for, maybe just to get to experiencesome of that colorful world for a moment, get a break from the ordinary, and to share it with the audience.That is the magic that this world needs more of, I think"
A.R. Lönnqvist, Cellist at the Vaasa City Orchestra
Next Events
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France
18 June 2025
Paris, France
Bouquet Final !
HOLST – SAINT-SAËNS – PEPIN – STRAUSS
Piano : Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Choeur de Radio-France
Assistant conductor of Mikko Franck
Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Normandie
6, 8, 9, 10, 16 & 18 July 2025
Rouen, France
Summer Tour
RAVEL – BIZET – DEBUSSY – CHAMINADE – OFFENBACH – CHABRIER
Biography
Winner of the International Jorma Panula Conducting Competition 2024 (2nd Prize & Orchestra Prize), Félix Benati is a French conductor, deeply invested in the symphonic repertoire of the 20th & 21st century and in Opera. He has made remarked debuts with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France in April 2025, in a last-minute jump-in to replace Mikko Franck in Debussy’s La Mer. He also made recent debuts with Orchestre National de Lille, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen-Normandie, Orchestre Pasdeloup and Filarmonica de Stat Sibiu (Romania), and will debute next season with Vaasa City Orchestra, Jyväskylä Sinfonia (Finland) and Filarmonica de Stat Dinu Lipatti (Romania). Always searching to combine vocal & instrumental music, Felix likes to conceive his concert programs in that way, from Berio’s Folk Songs to Strauss’ Salome, Felix has thus worked on such various repertoire as Francis Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème or Bela Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle alongside Alexandre Bloch and Kristiina Poska from 2023 and 2025 when he was assistant conductor at the Orchestre National de Lille and the Orchestre Français des Jeunes. In that same period he got the opportunitu to work with international soloists : Elisabeth Leonskaja, Asmik Grigorian, Alexandre Tharaud, Véronique Gens, Pene Pati etc. Felix is regular guest conductor at Orchestre Elektra and Ensemble Multilatérale.
Videos
Press
"Rarely would the expression "jump-in" have been so litteral [...] While Félix Benati showed a lot of professionalism in Bartók - opus rarely played - by replacing Mikko Franck without even one rehearsal with the orchestra, he also showed very beautiful expressive and technical qualities with Debussy's two opuses. Those should indeed belong to young conductor's repertoire. Eventhough : to be such at ease with them (he conducted by heart, so to speak, his score opened on each movement's first page without touching it afterwards except once), in such circumstances, is the sign of authentic talent. The audience as well as the orchestra saw that without a doubt, and offered him warm ovation. He was not hiding his emotion." Crescendo Magazine - May the 3rd, 2025
"With his juvenile face framed with very long waved hair hold by a golden slide, his rangy silhouette, Félix Benati breathes youth into the hall. However, this almost timid look is only apparent. Felix Benati knows the wheels of orchestra and conducts with authority and assurance [...] His sentient and colourful interpretation of Claude Debussy's Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and La Mer has gained the audience's unanimity, moreover the orchestra's musicians seem to particularly appreciate him. Yet it is with Béla Bartók's Viola Concerto with soloist Antoine Tamestit that Felix Benati has won the audience's heart evenmore [...]" Classykêo - May the 2nd, 2025
Crescendo Magazine interview, 24. October 2024 : Félix Benati, chef d’orchestre | Crescendo Magazine "I think if one is being curious, open-minded and meticulous enough in the work of the score - which so ever - he can serve it with accuracy and sincerity."
" Brightened by a sparkling lively gaze, his gestures evince a certain musical personality, caressing phrases with sweeping movements or kneading the sound with his hands. Thus he shows colourful very phrased and obviously efficient expressivity […]" Olyrix - 21 August 2021
" Félix Benati conducts with great intensity. Thin face, feverish gaze, precise and engaged gestures, he is at one with his singers and carries them far. " Ouest-France - 14 July 2019
Gallery
Contact
General Management :
EAS Musikmanagement GmbH
Europaplatz 2, 10557 Berlin (Germany)
EAS Musikmanagement S.L.
Calle de las Flores 2, 28490 Becerril de la Sierra, Madrid (Spain)
Andreea Butucariu, Director
T: +34 639 775 766
E: andreea.butucariu@eas-musikmanagement.com