Violaine Cochard is a French harpsichordist and pianist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances and innovative interpretations of Baroque and Classical music. Born in 1977 in the city of Nantes, Cochard began her musical studies at a young age, showing a particular aptitude for the keyboard instruments. Cochard's early training was focused on the piano, and she studied with renowned teachers such as Jacques Rouvier and Hortense Cartier-Bresson at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. However, she soon discovered a passion for the harpsichord, an instrument that had fallen out of favor in the 19th century but was experiencing a revival in the 20th century thanks to the efforts of pioneering musicians such as Wanda Landowska and Gustav Leonhardt. Cochard's interest in the harpsichord led her to study with some of the leading figures in the field, including Kenneth Gilbert, Christophe Rousset, and Pierre Hantaï. She also attended masterclasses with other luminaries of the early music world, such as Ton Koopman and Bob van Asperen. Cochard's talent and dedication soon began to pay off, and she began to win prizes and awards at international competitions. In 2002, she won first prize at the International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges, Belgium, and in 2004 she was awarded the prestigious Prix d'Europe, a scholarship that allowed her to continue her studies in Amsterdam with Hantaï. Cochard's career as a soloist and chamber musician took off in the early 2000s, and she quickly established herself as one of the leading harpsichordists of her generation. She has performed with many of the world's top early music ensembles, including Les Arts Florissants, Le Concert des Nations, and the Academy of Ancient Music, and has collaborated with renowned conductors such as William Christie, Jordi Savall, and Philippe Herreweghe. One of Cochard's most notable achievements was her recording of the complete harpsichord works of Jean-Philippe Rameau, one of the greatest French composers of the Baroque era. Released in 2014 on the Alpha Classics label, the recording was praised for its technical brilliance and musical sensitivity, and won several awards, including a Diapason d'Or and a Choc de Classica. Cochard's repertoire extends beyond the Baroque era, and she has also performed and recorded works by composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert on the fortepiano, a predecessor of the modern piano that was popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Her recordings of Mozart's piano concertos with the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris and conductor Douglas Boyd were particularly well-received, and won a Diapason d'Or de l'Année in 2017. In addition to her performing career, Cochard is also a respected teacher and scholar. She has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, and has given masterclasses and lectures at universities and conservatories around the world. She has also published articles and essays on various aspects of early music performance practice, and is a sought-after speaker and commentator on the subject. Cochard's playing is characterized by its clarity, precision, and expressive power.

More....