Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Hailed as one of the best pianists in the world, Jean-Yves Thibaudet continues to captivate audiences with his thrilling performances, profound artistry, poetic musicality, and dazzling technical prowess. He is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, conductors, and collaborative musicians for his enlightened interpretations and charisma. In 2010, the Hollywood Bowl honored Mr. Thibaudet for his musical achievement by inducting him into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.
Mr. Thibaudet began his 2010–2011 season in Switzerland with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Charles Dutoit. This season’s touring highlights include a tour of China with the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as a German tour with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Performances abroad include appearances with the Royal Stockholm and Malaysian philharmonic orchestras; Sydney, Melbourne, West Australian, Toronto, MDR, and Danish National symphony orchestras; Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg; Orchestre national de Lyon; Orchestre national de France; Orchestre symphonique de Montréal; Orchestre de Paris; and Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai. This season, Mr. Thibaudet also appears in the US with the symphony orchestras of Detroit, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Minnesota, and Seattle; Los Angeles Philharmonic; and New World Symphony. An avid recitalist, Mr. Thibaudet embarks on a two-continent recital tour, with performances in Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Spain, California, Missouri, Colorado, Michigan, Florida, and New York. Chamber music dates in Los Angeles, France, and Belgium round out his eclectic schedule.
Mr. Thibaudet is an exclusive recording artist for Decca Classics, which has released more than 40 of his albums. His recordings have won the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, Diapason d’Or, CHOC du Monde de la Musique, Gramophone Award, two ECHO Awards, and Edison Award. In spring 2010, Mr. Thibaudet released his latest CD, Gershwin, featuring big band orchestrations of Rhapsody in Blue, “I Got Rhythm” Variations, and Concerto in F, live with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Marin Alsop. On his Grammy-nominated recording, Saint-Saëns, Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 5, released in fall 2007, Mr. Thibaudet is joined by his longstanding collaborator, conductor Charles Dutoit, with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Also released in 2007, his album Aria: Opera Without Words features transcriptions of opera arias by Saint-Saëns, R. Strauss, Gluck, Korngold, Bellini, J. Strauss II, P. Grainger, and Puccini. Mr. Thibaudet was the soloist on the Oscar and Golden Globe Award–winning soundtrack of Universal Pictures’s Atonement and the Oscar-nominated Pride and Prejudice. Other recordings include Satie: The Complete Solo Piano Music, and the jazz albums Reflections on Duke: Jean-Yves Thibaudet Plays the Music of Duke Ellington and Conversations With Bill Evans.
Mr. Thibaudet was born in Lyon, France, where he began his piano studies at age 5 and made his first public appearance at age 7. At 12, he entered the Paris Conservatoire to study with Aldo Ciccolini and Lucette Descaves, a friend and collaborator of Ravel. At age 15, he won the Premier Prix du Conservatoire and three years later, won the Young Concert Artists Auditions in New York City. In 2001, Mr. Thibaudet was awarded France’s prestigious Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in 2002 he was awarded the Premio Pegasus from the Spoleto Festival in Italy for his artistic achievements and long-standing involvement with the festival. In 2007, he was awarded the Victoire d’honneur, a lifetime career achievement award and highest honor given by France’s Victoires de la Musique.
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