Role

:

Performer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

July 13, 1928 in Houilles, France

Death

:

August 3, 2001 in Juan-Les-Pins, France

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

Jeanne Loriod was a French classical music artist who was born on July 13, 1928, in Houilles, France. She was the youngest of three children born to André Loriod and Madeleine Damourette. Her father was a composer and music teacher, and her mother was a pianist. Jeanne grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. At the age of 12, Jeanne began studying the ondes Martenot, an electronic musical instrument invented by Maurice Martenot in 1928. She was taught by her sister, Ginette, who was also a renowned ondist. Jeanne quickly became proficient on the instrument and began performing in public at the age of 14. In 1947, Jeanne and Ginette formed the Loriod Duo and began touring Europe, performing concerts and giving masterclasses. They also recorded several albums together, including works by Olivier Messiaen, who was a close friend of the family. Messiaen was a composer and pianist who was known for his use of complex rhythms and harmonies in his music. He was also a pioneer in the use of electronic instruments in classical music. Jeanne and Ginette became known for their virtuosic performances on the ondes Martenot, and they were invited to perform with many of the leading orchestras and conductors of the day. They also collaborated with other musicians, including the pianist Yvonne Loriod, who was their older sister. In addition to her work as a performer, Jeanne was also a teacher and composer. She taught at the Paris Conservatory and the Schola Cantorum in Paris, and she wrote several pieces for the ondes Martenot, including a concerto for the instrument and orchestra. One of the highlights of Jeanne's career was her performance of Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1964. The work is a large-scale composition for orchestra and ondes Martenot, and it is known for its complex rhythms and harmonies. Jeanne's performance was widely praised, and it helped to establish her as one of the leading ondistes of her time. Jeanne also performed with other leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She worked with many of the leading conductors of the day, including Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, and Herbert von Karajan. In addition to her work as a performer and composer, Jeanne was also a champion of the ondes Martenot. She worked to promote the instrument and to encourage other musicians to learn to play it. She also collaborated with instrument makers to improve the design of the instrument and to make it more accessible to musicians. Jeanne received many awards and honors during her career, including the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1985 and the Grand Prix National de la Musique in 1991. She was also awarded the Prix de la Fondation Simone et Cino Del Duca in 1995 for her contributions to the field of music. Jeanne Loriod passed away on August 3, 2001, at the age of 73. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest ondistes of her time and as a pioneer in the use of electronic instruments in classical music. Her contributions to the field of music continue to be celebrated and remembered today.

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