Birth

:

in Bordeaux, France

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Dominique Merlet is a renowned French classical pianist and pedagogue, born on December 24, 1938, in Lyon, France. He began his musical journey at the age of six, studying piano with his mother, who was a pianist herself. At the age of nine, he entered the Conservatoire National de Musique de Lyon, where he studied with Yvonne Lefébure, a renowned French pianist and pedagogue. Merlet's talent was quickly recognized, and he won several prizes at national and international competitions, including the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris in 1957 and the Geneva International Music Competition in 1959. These early successes paved the way for a successful career as a concert pianist. Merlet made his debut at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in 1960, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Orchestre National de France under the direction of Charles Munch. This performance was a critical success, and Merlet quickly established himself as one of the leading pianists of his generation. Throughout his career, Merlet has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has also collaborated with many renowned conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, and Seiji Ozawa. Merlet's repertoire is vast and includes works by many of the great composers, including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, and Ravel. He is particularly known for his interpretations of the works of Debussy and Ravel, and his recordings of their music have received critical acclaim. In addition to his career as a concert pianist, Merlet is also a respected pedagogue. He has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, the Geneva Conservatory, and the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. Many of his students have gone on to successful careers as pianists and teachers. Merlet has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Grand Prix du Disque, the Diapason d'Or, and the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. In 2018, he was awarded the Prix de la Fondation Simone et Cino Del Duca, one of the most prestigious awards in the arts in France. Despite his many accomplishments, Merlet remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to perform and teach, inspiring generations of musicians with his passion and artistry.

More....