Yves Abel

Yves Abel (born 1963) is a Canadian conductor whose focus is Italian and French opera, which he has conducted at major opera houses in Europe and the United States. He is the founder and conductor of the Opéra Français de New York, which focuses on rarely performed French operas. He is also the chief conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, a position he has held since 2015.
Career.
Abel was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of French parents. He made his professional debut as a boy, singing solo in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" at the Canadian Opera Company. He studied piano and conducting at The New School for Music of the Mannes College in New York City.
He was principal guest conductor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin from 2005 to 2011. He conducted Bizet's "Carmen" and Rossini's "Il barbiere di Siviglia" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore" at the Vienna State Opera, Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra" and "Un ballo in maschera", Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and Rossini's "L'italiana in Algeri" at the Vienna State Opera, Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" and Poulenc's "Dialogues des Carmélites" at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Gounod's "Faust" at the Paris Opera, Donizetti's "La fille du régiment" at La Scala in Milan, and "Hamlet" by Abroise Thomas at the San Francisco Opera. He also conducted at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, in Bilbao and Lisbon, and at the Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne Festival and Pesaro Festival. Abel conducted at the Liceu in Barcelona, first Donizetti's "Roberto Devereux" in 2004, then "Madama Butterfly" in 2005 and "La fille du régiment" in 2009. He conducted Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" at the Bavarian State Opera, Verdi's "La Traviata" (2010) and "La Fille du Regiment" at the Royal Opera House in London, and "Madama Butterfly" at the New National Theatre Tokyo. 
In 1988, Abel founded the company Opéra Français de New York, which is focused on rarely played French operas. Also its musical director, he presented there the world premiere of Pascal Dusapin's "To be sung".
Since 2015, Abel has been chief conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, where his contract of initially three years was extended to 2020.
Awards.
In 2009, the French government appointed him Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2017, Abel received the Rubies Award from the Opera Canada, for his services to opera in Canada.