Canada’s Orchestre Classique de Montréal Departs with Artistic Director and Principal Conductor

Conductor Jacques Lacombe will no longer serve in the position, which was initially a five-year contract

The Orchestre Classique de Montréal (OCM) has announced the departure of its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Jacques Lacombe, who was first appointed the role in February 2023 for an initial five years. 

“Over the past season, the OCM is proud to have been able to count on the services of Maestro Lacombe, who shared his passion and talent with the musicians and audiences alike,” reads the press release, according to myscena. 

“The Board of Directors of the Orchestre Classique de Montréal thanks [Lacombe] for his contribution over the past season, and wishes him every success in his future endeavors,” added OCM’s Board Chair Joel Carrier. 

Lacombe has served as Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonie de Lorraine, and of Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières. He has also been Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Chief Conductor of the Bonn Opera, and Associate Conductor with the Orchestre Lyrique de Région Avignon Provence.

A graduate of the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Lacombe was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec in 2012, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2013.

In a recent Facebook post, Lacombe wrote that the OCM’s announcement of his leaving the ensemble has prompted him to explain the situation from his point of view: “It is with great sadness that I am forced to describe the circumstances of my involuntary departure from the artistic direction of the orchestra.” 

He goes on to explain that there were differences between himself and the organization's chief executives. He explained that current and former employees over the past year have told him about “a disastrous working environment imposed by the CEO’s management style in administration,” leading to “the resignation of two members of the administrative team.”

“Motivated by the desire to fully take on my responsibilities as artistic director of the OCM, I have made many interventions with the general management to solve these problems, with the sole motivation to improve the smooth functioning and professionalism of this important Montreal cultural institution,” he added. “Having not been heard by the general management, these interventions have had the effect of cracking the general manager in my regard. Facing this situation, the Board of Directors of OCM, without ever taking the time to listen to my grievances, decided to take a stand.”

He explained that he met with Carrier this May, who informed him that the OCM board was asking him to resign at the end of this season. Despite Lacombe’s “repeated requests,” the board members did not meet with him, he said, “just as they have never otherwise requested my presence at any regular Board meeting over the past season.”

“The Board of Directors also refused to follow up on a written request sent to them in early June by almost all musicians and staff to initiate a mediation process, a request of which I have no objection to the original and which I have never participated in,” he continued. 

“So it is with a heavy heart that I see this wonderful relationship with the musicians and musicians of OCM, as well as our precious donors, collaborators and our numerous audience come to an end in such a brutal and chivalrous manner. So this untimely termination forces me today to publish this ‘post’ on Facebook in order to cut short any speculation that the announcement of my departure just one year after my inauguration could cause, while no odd person who can justify such a termination can blame me.

“I would like to express my gratitude and admiration to all the musicians, musicians and staff for their talent, investment, generosity and constant desire to excel which have been a great source of joy, pride and inspiration for me.”

In response, the OCM recently posted the following on Facebook:

“The Board of Directors of the Montreal Classical Orchestra disagrees with the statements made by Maestro Jacques Lacombe following the decision of the OCM to terminate his contract and regrets that he chose to hold such statements in the public square,” OCM wrote. “At all times, the OCM was guided by the Orchestra's best interests, and to that end it had to make this difficult but necessary decision. OCM is glad to have been able to count on its services during the past year. In other words, the board of directors reiterates its full support to Mr. Taras Kulish, general manager, and his team and precious musicians. Season 85 will be announced in August!”