He is also a pianist and conductor, and here he conducts his own opera. He has had an acclaimed career in film music, and from 1989 to 1996 he was the music director of the Orchestre Symphonique Français. He has conducted other prestigious orchestras, including La Fenice and Paris Opéra where he conducted several operas, and he is a regular guest at the Berliner Philharmoniker. His recording of Mozart's Requiem had more than one million copies sold. This is his first opera. It won the SACD Music Prize in May 2001. He has earned several accolades including being appointed Commander in the French Order of Arts and Letters.