Birth

:

July 13, 1974 in Paris, France

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Vocal

 

Claire-Marie le Guay is a French classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances and insightful interpretations of classical repertoire. Born on October 23, 1974, in Aix-en-Provence, France, le Guay showed an early aptitude for music and began studying piano at the age of five. She quickly demonstrated a natural talent for the instrument and went on to pursue a career as a professional pianist. Le Guay's early musical education was shaped by her studies with renowned pianists such as Bruno Rigutto and Maria João Pires. She also received guidance from the legendary conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, who recognized her exceptional talent and invited her to participate in his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a project aimed at promoting peace and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians through music. Le Guay's career as a soloist began to take off in the early 2000s, when she won several prestigious international competitions, including the Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona and the International Piano Competition of the City of Paris. These victories helped to establish her as one of the most promising young pianists of her generation and led to invitations to perform with major orchestras and at major festivals around the world. One of le Guay's most notable performances was her debut at the Salzburg Festival in 2005, where she performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Riccardo Muti. The performance was widely praised for its elegance, sensitivity, and technical brilliance, and helped to cement le Guay's reputation as a rising star in the classical music world. Le Guay has also been recognized for her commitment to contemporary music, and has premiered works by composers such as Thierry Escaich, Philippe Hersant, and Bruno Mantovani. She has recorded several albums of contemporary repertoire, including a critically acclaimed recording of Escaich's Piano Concerto with the Orchestre National de France. In addition to her work as a soloist, le Guay is also an active chamber musician and collaborates regularly with other musicians and ensembles. She has performed with the Quatuor Ebène, the Modigliani Quartet, and the Trio Wanderer, among others, and has recorded several albums of chamber music repertoire. Le Guay's artistry has been recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 2006, she was awarded the Victoire de la Musique Classique, one of the most prestigious awards in French classical music, for her recording of Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 23. She has also been awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of the highest honors in French culture, in recognition of her contributions to the arts. Despite her many accomplishments, le Guay remains committed to exploring new musical horizons and pushing the boundaries of her art. She continues to perform regularly around the world, and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting and dynamic pianists of her generation.

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