Role

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Composer

Birth

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February 3, 1971 in Paris, France

Period

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Contemporary

 

Franck Bedrossian is a French composer of Armenian descent, born on October 24, 1971, in Paris, France. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a pianist and his mother a singer. Bedrossian started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and the bass guitar. He was also interested in rock music and played in several bands during his teenage years. Bedrossian studied music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where he received a first prize in composition in 1998. He also studied with composers such as Allain Gaussin, Gérard Grisey, and Marco Stroppa. In 2000, he moved to the United States to pursue a doctoral degree in composition at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied with Edmund Campion and Jorge Liderman. Bedrossian's music is characterized by its complexity, intensity, and virtuosity. He is known for his use of extended techniques, microtonality, and electronic sounds. His compositions often explore the relationship between sound and space, and between sound and time. He has been influenced by composers such as György Ligeti, Iannis Xenakis, and Helmut Lachenmann. Bedrossian's early works include "L'usage de la parole" (1996), for soprano and ensemble, and "It" (1997), for ensemble. These works already show his interest in exploring the limits of instrumental technique and the use of electronic sounds. In "L'usage de la parole," the soprano sings a text by Maurice Blanchot while the ensemble creates a dense and complex sound world. In "It," the ensemble creates a pulsating and rhythmic texture that gradually builds up to a climax. One of Bedrossian's most famous works is "Manifesto" (2005), for large orchestra. This work was commissioned by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and premiered in 2005 under the direction of Pierre-André Valade. "Manifesto" is a powerful and intense work that explores the relationship between sound and space. The orchestra is divided into several groups that are placed in different parts of the concert hall, creating a spatialized sound environment. The work also features electronic sounds that are diffused through the hall. Another important work by Bedrossian is "Anubis-Nout" (2011), for ensemble and electronics. This work was commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and premiered in 2011 under the direction of Matthias Pintscher. "Anubis-Nout" is inspired by the Egyptian gods Anubis and Nout and explores the relationship between sound and time. The work features complex rhythms and microtonal harmonies, as well as electronic sounds that are integrated into the ensemble. Bedrossian's most recent works include "Tracés d'ombres" (2018), for ensemble and electronics, and "Twist" (2019), for orchestra. "Tracés d'ombres" was commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and premiered in 2018 under the direction of Matthias Pintscher. The work explores the relationship between sound and light, with the ensemble creating a sonic landscape that is illuminated by a light installation. "Twist" was commissioned by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and premiered in 2019 under the direction of Mikko Franck. The work features complex rhythms and virtuosic instrumental writing, as well as electronic sounds that are diffused through the orchestra.

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