Role

:

Composer

 

Laurent Mettraux is a Swiss composer of classical music who was born on December 22, 1970, in Lausanne, Switzerland. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a pianist and his mother a singer. From a young age, Mettraux showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. Mettraux's musical education began at the Conservatory of Lausanne, where he studied piano, harmony, and counterpoint. He later went on to study composition with the renowned composer Klaus Huber at the Basel Music Academy. During his studies, Mettraux was awarded several prizes for his compositions, including the Prix de la Fondation Suisa and the Prix de la Ville de Lausanne. Mettraux's early works were heavily influenced by the music of the Second Viennese School, particularly the works of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern. His compositions were characterized by their atonal and serialist structures, as well as their use of unconventional instrumentation. One of Mettraux's early works, "Quintet for Clarinet and Strings," was premiered in 1995 by the Ensemble Contrechamps in Geneva. The piece was well-received by critics and established Mettraux as a promising young composer. In the years that followed, Mettraux continued to develop his unique style, incorporating elements of minimalism and spectralism into his compositions. His works began to feature more traditional instrumentation, such as string quartets and orchestral ensembles. One of Mettraux's most notable works is his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered in 2003 by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. The piece is characterized by its virtuosic piano writing and its use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms. Mettraux's music has been performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras around the world, including the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the London Sinfonietta, and the New York Philharmonic. He has also been commissioned to write works for a variety of soloists, including the pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard and the cellist Anssi Karttunen. In addition to his work as a composer, Mettraux is also a respected musicologist and has written extensively on the music of the Second Viennese School. He has published several articles and books on the subject, including "The Music of Anton Webern" and "Schoenberg and His School." Mettraux's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2005, he was awarded the Prix de la Fondation Vaudoise pour la Culture, and in 2010, he was named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. Today, Laurent Mettraux continues to compose and perform his music around the world. His works are celebrated for their innovative structures and their ability to push the boundaries of classical music.

More....