From 1989 to 1998 he was a conductor for the [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Orchestre+De+L%27Op%C3%A9ra+De+Lyon]Opera Orchestra of Lyon[/url]. In September 2006, he was named music director for the [url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Orchestre+Symphonique+De+Montréal]Montreal Symphony Orchestra[/url] and replaced Zubin Mehta as musical director of the Bayerische Staatsoper.