During that time, he made his debut as an oboist and as conductor (1977–1982) of the wind ensemble Union Musicale of Villefranche-sur-Saône (to the north of Lyons).
He also studied for three years with Franco Ferrara at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy.
Since then, his guest conducting appearances have included many performances in Japan, in France and in North-America.
His recent conducting includes the three Mozart-Da Ponte operas, Gounod's Faust at the inauguration of the new Shanghai Grand Theatre, and Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande.
In February 2002 he made his debut at the New National Theatre Tokyo conducting Mozart's Marriage of Figaro.