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Alexandre Tharaud

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Alexandre Tharaud is a French pianist, born in Paris in 1968. His mother was a dance teacher at the Opéra de Paris and his father sang and directed operettas as an amateur. He began piano lessons at the age of five. At fourteen he entered the Paris Conservatoire, and at seventeen he won first prize for piano there. In 1987 he won third prize at the Barcelona competition and in 1989 second prize at the ARD competition in Munich. His career developed quickly in Europe, North America and Japan.

Music and breakthrough

He recorded a large, varied discography. It includes Rameau, Scarlatti, Debussy and Poulenc, as well as Le Bœuf sur le toit : Swinging Paris from 2012. He worked with the actor François Morel on a show about Erik Satie and organised a Satie day with the singer Juliette. In 2012 he played himself in Michael Haneke's film Amour. In 2005 The New York Times described his Bach as sharply articulated and vividly drawn. In 2015 he was the central soloist at the Prinsengrachtconcert in Amsterdam.

Influence

Tharaud has no piano at home, because he fears he would then rather improvise than work hard. He practises at friends' homes on a variety of instruments. Before every recording he lays flowers on the grave of Emmanuel Chabrier. He has written two books about his life as a musician. In this way he shows that a classical pianist can find a voice of his own in cabaret, film and books too.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Le Bœuf sur le toit : Swinging Paris and notice how he brings the light, Parisian atmosphere of the 1920s to life on the piano.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists