About this Artist
ALEXANDRE THARAUD has distinguished himself as one of France’s leading pianists. Recognized on the international stage as an artist of unique vision and originality, Tharaud is heralded for his brilliantly-conceived programs and bestselling recordings that range from Bach, Chopin, Rameau, and Ravel to music inspired by Paris cabaret of the 1920’s.
This season, he makes his debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony and returns to the Toronto Symphony. He will also appear at Boston Symphony Hall and at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and perform on tour throughout North America with Les Violons du Roy – with whom he has recorded Bach and Mozart for Warner Classics. Last season, he appeared in recital in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Washington, and throughout the U.S., including a return to Carnegie Hall, and his debut at Chicago Symphony Hall. Alexandre has enjoyed working with such conductors as Peter Oundjian, Bernard Labadie, Daniele Gatti, Lionel Bringuier, Stéphane Denève, Vladimir Jurowski, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, among others.
In Fall 2015, Warner released Tharaud’s recording of the Bach Goldberg Variations to great critical acclaim. He will perform the piece on tour in North America in 2016/17; this season, he launches the CD with performances at the Philharmonie in Paris, St John Smith’s Square in London, the Cologne Philarmonie, and the BOZAR in Brussels.
Later this season, Tharaud will present the world premiere of Hans Abrahamsen’s concerto for the left hand together with the WDR Sinfoniorchester Köln, directed by Ilan Volkov. Subsequent performances include national premieres with the CBSO in Birmingham, the Rotterdam Philharmonic (directed by Yannick Nézet-Séguin), the Danish Radio Orchestra in Copenhagen, and the Göteborgs Symfoniker, Sweden. Other recent highlights include his debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; appearances with the London Philharmonic and Yannick Nézet-Séguin; and a European tour with Orchestre National de France and Daniele Gatti.
As a recitalist Tharaud has performed across the world: Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Opéra de Versailles, Cologne Philharmonie, Prague Rudofinum, Essen Philharmonie, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Vienna Musikverein, Krakow Philharmonie, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
In 2013, his book Piano in Time was published, comprising a collection of interviews with Nicholas Southon. He is currently working on a second book about his family. Tharaud starred in Michael Haneke’s last film, Amour, which took the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival (Tharaud also provided the soundtrack to the film), and a documentary about him, Hidden Time, was released last year.
For harmonia mundi, Tharaud made a series of critically acclaimed recordings including the highly celebrated, best-selling Rameau CD, followed by Ravel (complete piano works), Bach’s Italian Concerti, Couperin, Satie, and a series of Chopin CDs. Next came Journal Intime, his first Virgin Classics CD. Subsequent award-winning releases include Bach’s keyboard concertos and a selection of Scarlatti’s sonatas. In 2012, Virgin Classics released Swinging Paris - Le Boeuf sur le Toit. The disc conjures up the range and atmosphere of the legendary 1920’s Parisian cabaret bar, featuring a selection of composers from Ravel to Gershwin to W.C. Handy, and including collaborations with Natalie Dessay and Madeleine Peyroux.
Dedicatee of numerous works, Alexandre Tharaud premiered Thierry Pécou’s cycle Outre-Mémoire, which included two concertos; L’Oiseau Innumérable, with orchestra and Le Visage – Le Cœur, with the choir Les Eléments at La Roque d’Anthéron Festival under the direction of Joël Suhubiette. In 2012, he premiered Gérard Pesson’s concerto in Zurich, Frankfurt, and Paris with the Tonhalle Orchester Zurich and RSO Frankfurt. Alexandre has also both commissioned and premiered three cycles: Hommages à Rameau, Hommage à Couperin, and Pianosong.