Jean-Philippe Collard
Encyclopedia
Jean-Philippe Collard is a renowned French pianist
who is known for his interpretations of the works of Gabriel Fauré
and Camille Saint-Saëns
.
Born into a musical family, he started playing the piano at age five. In 1960 he traveled to Berlin having been sent by the Jeunesses-Musicales to compete in the International Competition for young pianists. At 16 he won First Prize at the Paris Conservatory of Music. He also is a winner of the Gabriel Fauré
Award. He has a First Prize from the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition. He was awarded the Albert Roussel
Award and won the Cziffra International Competition.
In 1973 he played his recital debut in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
. Critics in Paris were very enthusiastic. "He has all the right qualities which make him a musician of the highest order; his technique, his sensibility are like the flower of virtuosity" -- Le Figaro
, February, 1973.
He is considered one of the greatest exponents of the French school. He made his American debut in 1973 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa
, and praise from the San Francisco Chronicle
was high.
A prolific recording artist with more than thirty titles to his credit, Mr. Collard's discography includes the Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux and Brahms Hungarian Dances (with pianist Michel Beroff
), both named Stereo Reviews Record of the Year in their respective years; the Ravel Concerti with Lorin Maazel and the Orchestre National de France, cited by Gramophone magazine as Best Concerto Recording; and the Chausson Concert, Op. 21 (with Augustin Dumay and the Muir String Quartet) which won the Grand Prix du Disque. He has recorded all five Saint-Saëns Piano Concerti with André Previn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the first recordings of Mozart's arrangements of the six French melodies with baritone José van Dam. Other recordings include a disc of Chopin Ballades and the Sonata No. 3, and a Liszt recital disc including the B minor Sonata.
Mr. Collard resides in France.
He was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor
in 2003.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
who is known for his interpretations of the works of Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
and Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
.
Born into a musical family, he started playing the piano at age five. In 1960 he traveled to Berlin having been sent by the Jeunesses-Musicales to compete in the International Competition for young pianists. At 16 he won First Prize at the Paris Conservatory of Music. He also is a winner of the Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
Award. He has a First Prize from the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition. He was awarded the Albert Roussel
Albert Roussel
Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel was a French composer. He spent seven years as a midshipman, turned to music as an adult, and became one of the most prominent French composers of the interwar period...
Award and won the Cziffra International Competition.
In 1973 he played his recital debut in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
. Critics in Paris were very enthusiastic. "He has all the right qualities which make him a musician of the highest order; his technique, his sensibility are like the flower of virtuosity" -- Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
, February, 1973.
He is considered one of the greatest exponents of the French school. He made his American debut in 1973 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa
Seiji Ozawa
is a Japanese conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of large-scale late Romantic works. He is most known for his work as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Vienna State Opera.-Early years:...
, and praise from the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
was high.
A prolific recording artist with more than thirty titles to his credit, Mr. Collard's discography includes the Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux and Brahms Hungarian Dances (with pianist Michel Beroff
Michel Béroff
-Biography:Béroff was born at Épinal, and trained at the Nancy Conservatory, winning the 1st prize in 1962 and the prize of excellence in 1963. He completed his studies at the Paris Conservatory with Yvonne Loriod, winning the 1st prize in 1966. In 1967 he made his Paris debut and won 1st prize in...
), both named Stereo Reviews Record of the Year in their respective years; the Ravel Concerti with Lorin Maazel and the Orchestre National de France, cited by Gramophone magazine as Best Concerto Recording; and the Chausson Concert, Op. 21 (with Augustin Dumay and the Muir String Quartet) which won the Grand Prix du Disque. He has recorded all five Saint-Saëns Piano Concerti with André Previn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the first recordings of Mozart's arrangements of the six French melodies with baritone José van Dam. Other recordings include a disc of Chopin Ballades and the Sonata No. 3, and a Liszt recital disc including the B minor Sonata.
Mr. Collard resides in France.
He was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 2003.
External links
- Official Bio at Seldy Cramer Artists website
- 2004 Collard interview in La Scena Musicale