Tortelier, who boasts a prominent career as one of the world's leading orchestra conductors, began his music career as a violinist and won the Violin Prize at the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 14. After studying music under Nadia Boulanger, he studied conducting with Franco Ferrara at the Conservatory of Chigiana in Siena. After serving as Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Ulster Orchestra, he held positions such as Principal Guest Conductor the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Chief Conductor of the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra. From 1992 to 2003, he made significant achievements as Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, and currently serves as Honorary Conductor. He currently conducts major orchestras around the world, including Chief Conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Paris Orchestra, Amsterdam Royal Concentgebouw Orchestra, and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. He has a long-term contract with the Chandos label and has made numerous recordings.