Jean-Pierre Wallez
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierrre Wallez is a French violin
ist and conductor
.
. He graduated in first place in violin and chamber music
at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris
. He won the highest prize of the 1960 Paganini Competition
in Genoa
after winning three lesser prizes in previous years. Wallez was laureate of the International Competition in Geneva, as well as of the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris.
He was the first solo-violin of the Orchestre de Paris
from 1975 to 1977. At the same time, from 1968 to 1983, he was the leader of the Ensemble Instrumental de France, touring extensively. While doing this, he continued his career as a soloist; he played with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
, Bernard Haitink
, the Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim
and Zubin Mehta
, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
, the New Japan Philharmonic
, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra
in Tokyo. He also played with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
, Isaac Stern
, Henryk Szeryng
, Jean-Pierre Rampal
, Mstislav Rostropovich
, Galina Vishnevskaya
, Aldo Ciccolini
, Paul Badura-Skoda
, and Pierre Barbizet.
Wallez studied conducting with Pierre Dervaux
and then with Sergiu Celibidache
. He was the artistic director of the Festival de Musique d'Albi from its creation in 1974 to its end in 1990. Most of the productions were recorded and broadcast on television. In 1978, Wallez created the chamber orchestra Ensemble orchestral de Paris which toured Europe, South America, and Japan. The concerts included Bach, contemporary composers, symphonic works, chamber music, and a work with Pierre Boulez
and the Ensemble InterContemporain
.
In 1986, Wallez left the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. He became the first guest conductor of the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie
in Belgium rom 1987 to 1990, and of the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester in Denmark from 1990 to 1993. He was the musical director of the Örebro Chamber Orchestra
in Sweden from 1992 to 1995. From 1994 to the end of 2000, he was the principal guest conductor of the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa
in Japan. In 1996, he was also the first guest conductor of the Pasdeloup Orchestra
in Paris. His repertoire includes operas by Mozart, Rossini, Bizet, Berlioz, Gounod, Britten, Offenbach.
Wallez recorded for Decca, EMI, CBS, Erato, Forlane, Ades and received awards for them, including the Grand Prix du Disque
for the violin concertos by Jean-Marie Leclair
, the Russian Concerto and the Concerto in F by Édouard Lalo
, and a Gold Record for the Vivaldi Four Seasons
with the Ensemble orchestral de Paris.
He teaches violin at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique in Geneva (virtuosity class) and tutors children aged 3 to 7 through the association he created, la Maison Internationale du Violon. Wallez is the artistic adviser of the Septembre Musical de l'Orne a festival in Normandy.
Wallez is Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, Officier dans l'Ordre national du Mérite
, Officier des Arts et Lettres
, and received the Médaille de Vermeil (bronze) from the City of Paris.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Career
Wallez was born in LilleLille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. He graduated in first place in violin and chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
. He won the highest prize of the 1960 Paganini Competition
Paganini Competition
The Paganini Competition is an international violin competition named after the famed virtuoso and founder of contemporary violin technique Niccolò Paganini. Created in 1954 it has been carried out ever since in the months of September and October. The "Paganini Competition" is one of the most...
in Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
after winning three lesser prizes in previous years. Wallez was laureate of the International Competition in Geneva, as well as of the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris.
He was the first solo-violin of the Orchestre de Paris
Orchestre de Paris
The Orchestre de Paris is a French orchestra based in Paris. The orchestra performs most of its concerts at the Salle Pleyel.-History:In 1967, following the dissolution of the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conductor Charles Munch was called on by the Minister of Culture,...
from 1975 to 1977. At the same time, from 1968 to 1983, he was the leader of the Ensemble Instrumental de France, touring extensively. While doing this, he continued his career as a soloist; he played with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
, Bernard Haitink
Bernard Haitink
Bernard Johan Herman Haitink, CH, KBE is a Dutch conductor and violinist.- Early life :Haitink was born in Amsterdam, the son of Willem Haitink and Anna Haitink. He studied music at the conservatoire in Amsterdam...
, the Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim, KBE is an Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor. He has served as music director of several major symphonic and operatic orchestras and made numerous recordings....
and Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Helsinki, Finland...
, the New Japan Philharmonic
New Japan Philharmonic
The is a symphony orchestra based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1972 with Seiji Ozawa as honorary conductor laureate. The Philharmonic's primary concert venue is the Sumida Triphony Hall. Since 2003, its music director is Christian Arming....
, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra
NHK Symphony Orchestra
The in Tokyo, Japan began as the New Symphony Orchestra on October 5, 1926 and was the country's first professional symphony orchestra. Later, it changed its name to Japan Symphony Orchestra and in 1951, after receiving financial support from NHK, it took its current name...
in Tokyo. He also played with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli was a virtuoso Italian classical pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, as well as one of the most important Italian pianists along with Ferruccio Busoni and Maurizio Pollini.-Biography:Born in Brescia, Italy, he began...
, Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern was a Ukrainian-born violinist. He was renowned for his recordings and for discovering new musical talent.-Biography:Isaac Stern was born into a Jewish family in Kremenets, Ukraine. He was fourteen months old when his family moved to San Francisco...
, Henryk Szeryng
Henryk Szeryng
Henryk Szeryng was a Polish violinist.-Early years:He was born in Żelazowa Wola, Poland on 22 September 1918 into a wealthy family....
, Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."-Early years:...
, Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
, Galina Vishnevskaya
Galina Vishnevskaya
Galina Pavlovna Vishnevskaya is a Russian soprano opera singer and recitalist who was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1966.-Biography:...
, Aldo Ciccolini
Aldo Ciccolini
Aldo Ciccolini , is an Italian-French pianist.-Biography:Aldo Ciccolini was born in Naples. His father, who bore the title of Marquis of Macerara, worked as a typographer. He took his first lessons with Maria Vigliarolo d'Ovidio, and entered Naples Conservatory in 1934 at the age of 9, by special...
, Paul Badura-Skoda
Paul Badura-Skoda
Paul Badura-Skoda is an Austrian pianist.He won first prize in the Austrian Music Competition in 1947. In 1949, he performed with distinguished conductors like Wilhelm Furtwängler and Herbert von Karajan...
, and Pierre Barbizet.
Wallez studied conducting with Pierre Dervaux
Pierre Dervaux
Pierre Dervaux was a French operatic conductor, composer, and pedagogue. At the Conservatoire de Paris, he studied counterpoint and harmony with Marcel Samuel-Rousseau and Jean and Noël Gallon, as well as piano with Isidor Philipp, Armand Ferté, and Yves Nat...
and then with Sergiu Celibidache
Sergiu Celibidache
- Biography :Celibidache was born in Roman, Romania, and began his studies in music with the piano, after which he studied music, philosophy and mathematics in Bucharest, Romania and then in Paris...
. He was the artistic director of the Festival de Musique d'Albi from its creation in 1974 to its end in 1990. Most of the productions were recorded and broadcast on television. In 1978, Wallez created the chamber orchestra Ensemble orchestral de Paris which toured Europe, South America, and Japan. The concerts included Bach, contemporary composers, symphonic works, chamber music, and a work with Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
and the Ensemble InterContemporain
Ensemble InterContemporain
The Ensemble InterContemporain is a French chamber orchestra, based in Paris at the Cité de la musique and IRCAM, which specialises in contemporary classical music....
.
In 1986, Wallez left the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. He became the first guest conductor of the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie
Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie
The Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie is a Belgian chamber orchestra based in Mons.-History:The Orchestra was founded in 1958 by the violinist Lola Bobesco and its leadership was entrusted successively to the concertmasters Philippe Hirschhorn, Jean-Pierre Wallez, Georges Octors, and, since...
in Belgium rom 1987 to 1990, and of the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester in Denmark from 1990 to 1993. He was the musical director of the Örebro Chamber Orchestra
Örebro Chamber Orchestra
Örebro Chamber Orchestra is the string section of the Scandinavia's only full-time professional chamber orchestra, the Swedish Chamber Orchestra . The Swedish Chamber Orchestra, which was formed in 1995, is a result of merging the Örebro Chamber Orchestra and the Örebro Wind Ensemble. The home of...
in Sweden from 1992 to 1995. From 1994 to the end of 2000, he was the principal guest conductor of the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa
Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa
The is a professional chamber orchestra, founded in 1988, based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, and is a full member of Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras. The Orchestra's home is Ishikawa Ongakudo . Since 2007, its music director is Michiyoshi Inoue.-Activities:The orchestra performs more...
in Japan. In 1996, he was also the first guest conductor of the Pasdeloup Orchestra
Pasdeloup Orchestra
The Pasdeloup Orchestra is the oldest symphony orchestra in France.-History:Founded in 1861 by Jules Pasdeloup with the name Concerts Populaires, it is the oldest orchestra still in existence in Paris...
in Paris. His repertoire includes operas by Mozart, Rossini, Bizet, Berlioz, Gounod, Britten, Offenbach.
Wallez recorded for Decca, EMI, CBS, Erato, Forlane, Ades and received awards for them, including the Grand Prix du Disque
Grand Prix du Disque
The Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
for the violin concertos by Jean-Marie Leclair
Jean-Marie Leclair
Jean-Marie Leclair l'aîné, also known as Jean-Marie Leclair the Elder, was a Baroque violinist and composer. He is considered to have founded the French violin school...
, the Russian Concerto and the Concerto in F by Édouard Lalo
Édouard Lalo
Édouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo was a French composer.-Biography:Lalo was born in Lille , in northernmost France. He attended that city's music conservatory in his youth. Then, beginning at age 16, Lalo studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Berlioz's old enemy François Antoine Habeneck...
, and a Gold Record for the Vivaldi Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of Baroque music. The texture of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season...
with the Ensemble orchestral de Paris.
He teaches violin at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique in Geneva (virtuosity class) and tutors children aged 3 to 7 through the association he created, la Maison Internationale du Violon. Wallez is the artistic adviser of the Septembre Musical de l'Orne a festival in Normandy.
Wallez is Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, Officier dans l'Ordre national du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
, Officier des Arts et Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
, and received the Médaille de Vermeil (bronze) from the City of Paris.