Ivan Velikanov is a Franco-Russian conductor, composer, and performer. A student of Gennadiy Rozhdestwensky at the Moscow Conservatory, he has participated in numerous masterclasses with world-renowned figures such as Kurt Masur, Kenneth Kiesler, and Theodor Currentzis. From 2014 to 2017, Ivan worked as a conductor at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Musical Theatre, where he notably conducted the Russian premiere of J. Tavener’s opera The Gentle Spirit and the world premiere of G. Varlamov’s ballet, Rashomon Variations.

Founder of several chamber ensembles, including the Alta Capella ensemble and the Tarussa Chamber Orchestra, Ivan has held the position of deputy conductor at the Ural Opera Ballet since December 2018, where he has served as musical director for Dvorak’s Rusalka, Bizet’s Carmen, Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades, and Puccini’s Turandot. He regularly performs as a conductor with various chamber orchestras, including Toscana Classica (Florence), Volga Philharmonic (Samara), and the chamber ensemble of the Rostov-on-Don Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2022, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ivan performed Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy on the harpsichord during a performance of The Marriage of Figaro. Following this performance, Ivan was sidelined from Russian musical institutions. He currently lives in Montenegro, and will honor us by conducting the orchestra of the Arènes Lyriques for the” 2025 edition.