Jean-Guihen QueyrasCello Alexandre TharaudPiano
About This Performance
Jean-Guihen Queyras is highly praised the world over for his thoughtful interpretive approach and flawless technique. “Queyras elicits an exquisite range of nuance” (The Strad). He pairs up with Alexandre Tharaud, whose extraordinary career spans 25 years, 25 solo recordings and countless live performances. “His sense of characterization and fine detailing is everywhere apparent” (Gramophone).
Program
POULENC: Suite Française
BRAHMS: Cello Sonata, Op. 38 No. 1; Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 7, 5 (arr. Queyras/Tharaud)
BERG: Vier Stücke, Op. 5
SCHUBERT: Adagio from Sonata for Arpeggione, D.821
BRITTEN: Dialogo and Presto, from Sonata Op. 65
BACH: Allegro from Sonata in D Major, BWV1028
MARAIS: Prélude from Suite in D Minor (Suites Pour Viole, book II)
DEBUSSY: La Plus que Lente (arr. Roques)
FAURÉ: Sicilienne, Op. 78 and Papillon, Op. 77
Performance Sponsors
Martin and Kathleen Cohn
Artist Information
Performer Biographies
Curiosity, diversity and a firm focus on the music itself characterize the artistic work of Jean-Guihen Queyras. Whether on stage or on record, one experiences an artist dedicated completely and passionately to the music, whose humble and quite unpretentious treatment of the score reflects its clear, undistorted essence.
The inner motivations of composer, performer and audience must all be in tune with one another in order to bring about an outstanding concert experience: Jean-Guihen Queyras learnt this interpretative approach from Pierre Boulez, with whom he established a long artistic partnership. This philosophy, alongside a flawless technique and a clear, engaging tone, also shapes Jean-Guihen Queyras’ approach to every performance and his absolute commitment to the music itself.
His approaches to early music—as in his collaborations with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin—and to contemporary music are equally thorough. He has given world premieres of works by, among others, Ivan Fedele, Gilbert Amy, Bruno Mantovani, Michael Jarrell, Johannes-Maria Staud, Thomas Larcher and Tristan Murail. Conducted by the composer, he recorded Peter Eötvös’ Cello Concerto to mark his 70th birthday in November 2014.
With an extraordinary discography of over 25 solo albums, most of which have received major awards from the international music press, Alexandre Tharaud’s repertoire spans from Couperin, Bach, and Scarlatti to Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, and Rachmaninov, extending to the major French composers of the 20th century. His artistic range is further demonstrated through collaborations with theatre directors, dancers, choreographers, writers, film makers, singer-songwriters and musicians from beyond the classical world.
A highly sought-after soloist, Alexandre performs regularly with many of the world’s leading orchestras. This season, he appears with the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec and the Slovenian Philharmonic in performances of Beethoven, makes his debut with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra playing Ravel, collaborates with Angélique Kidjo at the London Jazz Festival, and embarks on a European and Asian tour with long-time musical partner Jean- Guihen Queyras, celebrating 30 years of their collaboration. The duo will also give a premiere of the Oscar Strasnoy Double Concerto with Orchestre Philharmonique du Strasbourg in the Spring, followed by further performances with PhilZuid.