Franz-Paul Decker

Franz-Paul Decker is a conductor of international reputation who has played an important role in Canadian musical life. He has been a regular guest conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra since 1976 and was Principal Guest Conductor from 1991 to 1999. Maestro Decker is Principal Guest Conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona, where he was Music Director from 1986 to 1992. In September 1995 he was named Conductor Laureate of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with whom he has enjoyed a highly acclaimed association of 30 years as well as holding the position of Principal Conductor from 1990 to 1994. In 1992 he led the Orchestra to the Expo at Seville, Spain, to perform with Kiri Te Kanawa to huge success.

Maestro Decker's North American career began in 1965 with a highly successful period of work with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. In 1967, he was chosen to succeed Zubin Mehta as Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for nine years. He then became artistic advisor to the Calgary Philharmonic and the Winnipeg Symphony. He regularly guest conducts the Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orchestras.
Maestro Decker holds awards and distinctions from the governments of Brazil, Holland, Germany and Canada. He has recorded for EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, the CBC and, most recently, Naxos.