Jean-Claude Casadesus

Jean-Claude Probst (born 7 December 1935), known professional as Jean-Claude Casadesus, is a French conductor. Biography Casadesus was born in Paris on 7 December 1935, the son of actress Gisèle Casadesus and her husband Lucien Pascal. He began his career as a percussionist before studying composition and conducting with Pierre Dervaux and Pierre Boulez. In 1969 he was hired as assistant conductor at the Paris Opéra and the Opéra-Comique. In 1971 he co-founded the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire with Pierre Dervaux, and acted as Dervaux's deputy there until 1976. In 1976 he became principal conductor of the Orchestre national de Lille, performing concerts locally and internationally. He directed the French Youth Orchestra in 2007. Personal life Jean-Claude has been married twice and has three children, his only daughter Caroline (b. 30 October 1962) is an opera singer and his first born son Sebastian Copeland (b. 3 April 1964) is a film director whose mother is Pénélope Copeland, his second son Olivier (b. 2 September 1970) is an actor whose mother is Anne Sevestre. Distinctions Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur Commandeur de l'Ordre national du Mérite Commandeur des Arts et Lettres Commandeur de l'Ordre d'Orange-Nassau Officier de l'Ordre de Léopold de Belgique Chevalier des Palmes Académiques