Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

February 28, 1964 in Paris, France

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Pierre Hantaï is a renowned French harpsichordist and conductor, known for his virtuosic performances of Baroque music. Born on February 28, 1964, in Paris, France, Hantaï grew up in a musical family. His father, Jérôme Hantaï, was a viola da gamba player, and his mother, Kaoru Uemura, was a pianist. Hantaï began playing the piano at a young age, but soon switched to the harpsichord, which became his primary instrument. Hantaï studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where he was a student of the renowned harpsichordist Kenneth Gilbert. He also studied with Gustav Leonhardt, one of the most influential harpsichordists of the 20th century. Hantaï quickly established himself as a talented young musician, winning several prizes and awards, including the First Prize in the International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges in 1982. In the early years of his career, Hantaï performed with several early music ensembles, including La Petite Bande, Les Arts Florissants, and La Chapelle Royale. He also collaborated with other prominent musicians, such as Jordi Savall, Philippe Herreweghe, and René Jacobs. Hantaï's performances were praised for their technical brilliance and musical sensitivity, and he quickly became one of the most sought-after harpsichordists of his generation. In 1991, Hantaï founded his own ensemble, Le Concert Français, which specialized in the performance of French Baroque music. The ensemble quickly gained a reputation for its innovative and dynamic performances, and Hantaï became known for his skillful direction and interpretation of the music. Le Concert Français released several acclaimed recordings, including a series of recordings of the complete harpsichord works of François Couperin. Hantaï's solo career also flourished during this time, and he became known for his performances of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. He recorded several albums of Bach's keyboard music, including the Goldberg Variations, the Partitas, and the Well-Tempered Clavier. Hantaï's performances of Bach's music were praised for their clarity, precision, and emotional depth, and he became recognized as one of the leading interpreters of Bach's keyboard music. In addition to his work as a performer, Hantaï also became a respected teacher and mentor. He taught at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, as well as at several other institutions in France and abroad. He also gave masterclasses and workshops, sharing his knowledge and expertise with the next generation of musicians. Hantaï's career continued to flourish in the 2000s, and he received several prestigious awards and honors. In 2001, he was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. In 2003, he was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, in recognition of his contributions to the arts. In 2008, he was awarded the Victoire de la Musique Classique for his recording of Bach's Partitas. Hantaï's performances and recordings continued to receive critical acclaim, and he remained one of the most respected and admired harpsichordists of his generation. He continued to perform and record throughout the 2010s, collaborating with other musicians and ensembles and exploring new repertoire.

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