Born in Geneva in 1962, Philippe Béran pursued a dual education in science—earning a degree in theoretical physics from the University of Geneva—and music, receiving first prizes from the Geneva Conservatory (in clarinet and orchestral conducting) and the Paris National Conservatory (in clarinet). Today, he enjoys an international career, conducting around one hundred concerts and performances each season with prestigious institutions.
Beyond his extensive repertoire, which spans from the 18th to the 21st century across all musical genres, he has four signature strengths: ballet, cine-concerts, commented concerts for young audiences and families, and the creation of new works.
After serving as Associate Conductor at the Opéra de Bordeaux from 1997 to 2000, Philippe Béran has consistently built rich and enduring relationships with the institutions he has worked with. These include:
• Orchestre de la Suisse Romande since 1992
• Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne from 1996 to 2010
• Opéra National de Bordeaux from 1997 to 2007
• Orchestre de Chambre de Genève since 2001
• Grand Théâtre de Genève from 2002 to 2019
• Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo since 2003
• Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg from 2003 to 2012
• Kungliga Operan (Stockholm) since 2009
• Théâtre du Capitole (Toulouse) since 2010
• Finnish National Opera and Ballet (Helsinki) since 2011
• Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana since 2014
• Orchestre National de France since 2016
• Festival del Film Locarno since 2014
A passionate advocate for dance, he conducted nine performances of The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center with the New York City Ballet in December 2007 and inaugurated the new Beijing Opera in May 2008 with the Paris Opera Ballet and the National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra (ballet Paquita).
A lover of cinema, Philippe Béran has always been fascinated by the rich repertoire of film music. He is particularly passionate about conducting cine-concerts, which involve accompanying a film screening live with an orchestra. His repertoire includes all of Charlie Chaplin’s films, of which he is a specialist. He regularly collaborates with the Locarno Festival, where he conducts the opening cine-concert.
Eager to share his passion and deep love for music with new generations, Philippe Béran—a married father of four—relies on enthusiasm, energy, and joy, which he readily communicates to his audience. To introduce music to those who know little or nothing about it, he has developed an original and lively concert format where the audience is not kept at a distance but is often invited to participate. Shorter and interspersed with audience-friendly commentary, these concerts explore all musical repertoires, from opera to video game music, with simplicity and humor, fostering a spirit of sharing and enjoyment.
In this same spirit, he has led the Orchestre du Collège de Genève for 33 years, bringing together nearly 100 young musicians aged 14 to 19 each season. He also taught orchestral conducting at the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne (HEMU) from 2009 to 2024.
Open-minded and passionate about the artistic possibilities of the future, Philippe Béran has premiered a vast number of works across all musical genres.
A few words to describe his personality: energy, emotion, imagination, enthusiasm, humor, joy, rigor, creativity, curiosity, professionalism, precision, and quality.
In November 2019, Philippe Béran was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Culturel de la Principauté de Monaco by the Princess of Hanover.
