Country

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France

Birth

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February 27, 1942 in Paris, France

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Keyboard

 

Blandine Verlet was a French harpsichordist and pianist who was born on February 27, 1942, in Paris, France. She was born into a family of musicians, and her father was a composer and conductor. Verlet began playing the piano at a young age and later switched to the harpsichord, which became her primary instrument. Verlet studied at the Paris Conservatory, where she was a student of Ruggero Gerlin and Robert Veyron-Lacroix. She also studied with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam, who was a major influence on her playing style. Verlet was known for her technical skill and her ability to bring out the nuances of the music she played. Verlet made her debut as a harpsichordist in 1965, and she quickly gained a reputation as one of the leading performers of Baroque music. She performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and she was a regular performer at major music festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival and the Salzburg Festival. Verlet was particularly known for her performances of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. She recorded several albums of Bach's music, including the Goldberg Variations, the French Suites, and the Partitas. Her recordings were praised for their clarity and precision, and they became some of the most popular recordings of Bach's music. In addition to her performances and recordings, Verlet was also a respected teacher. She taught at the Paris Conservatory and at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, and she gave masterclasses throughout Europe and the United States. Many of her students went on to become successful performers and teachers in their own right. Verlet received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1973, she was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for her recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. She was also awarded the Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros and the Prix de la Nouvelle Académie du Disque for her recordings of Bach's music. Verlet continued to perform and record throughout her career, and she remained an influential figure in the world of classical music until her death on December 30, 2018. Her recordings and performances continue to be celebrated for their technical skill and their ability to bring out the beauty and complexity of the music she played.

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