Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Pierre-Laurent Aimard was born in Lyon, France, in 1957. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Yvonne Loriod and in London with Maria Curcio. At the age of twelve he was introduced to Olivier Messiaen and within a few years became the composer’s preferred interpreter. He is widely acclaimed as a key figure in contemporary music, and collaborated closely for more than 15 years with György Ligeti, recording his complete works. He is also celebrated as a leading interpreter of the standard repertoire, and has appeared all over the globe with the world’s major orchestras and conductors. Aimard also gives solo recitals and chamber-music performances, and regularly appears at all the important music festivals. He holds professorships at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne and at the Paris Conservatoire, and gives lectures and masterclasses worldwide.

1973

First prize in the Olivier Messiaen Competition launches him on his international career

1976

Appointed first solo pianist with the Ensemble Intercontemporain by Pierre Boulez; he remains with the ensemble for 18 years

1994

His recording of Ligeti’s Piano Concerto is released on Deutsche Grammophon

1997

Release on the Yellow Label of Messiaen’s Réveil des oiseaux with the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Boulez

2000

His recordings of the Piano Quintet and Concerto op. 24 are released in Deutsche Grammophon’s 4-CD set of Webern’s complete works

2001

Acclaimed debut recital at New York’s Carnegie Hall

2005

Named “Instrumentalist of the Year” by the Royal Philharmonic Society in London. Release: Boulez’s Notations and Structures

2006

Performs his own seven-concert “Perspectives” series at Carnegie Hall (2006/07 season) during which he gives the world premiere of Elliott Carter’s Caténaires. Begins term as pianist-in-residence with the Berliner Philharmoniker and opens his “Carte blanche” series at the Konzerthaus Vienna. Named “Instrumentalist of the Year” by Musical America. Digital release of his recording made at the Styriarte Festival of Mozart piano concertos with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe

2007

Joins the roster of artistic partners of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Innovative song and chamber-music recital series at the Palais Garnier in Paris. “Artiste étoile” at the Lucerne Festival. Appears at the London Proms and at Carnegie Hall as soloist and conductor of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Performs at the Ojai Festival in California, of which he is also this year’s artistic director. Further concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and with the San Francisco Symphony and New York Philharmonic. Signs an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon; first recording under the new contract: Bach’s The Art of Fugue

2008

Artistic director of the year-long Messiaen Festival at London’s Southbank Centre. Artist-in-residence at the Salzburg Mozarteum and with the Cleveland Orchestra during which he gives the world premiere of George Benjamin’s new piano concerto in Lucerne. Tours with Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie in Japan and throughout Europe, Bach’s Art of Fugue and Messiaen’s Oiseaux exotiques. Bartók’s Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra with the London Symphony Orchestra under Boulez at the Barbican and Mozart Concertos with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at the Styriarte Festival. Releases: Aimard’s highly acclaimed interpretation of Bach’s Art of Fugue, works by Messiaen including the Preludes and his contribution to Pierre Boulez’s Bartók project – the Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra with the London Symphony Orchestra

2009

Continues as artistic partner of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, playing and conducting works ranging from Beethoven to Stockhausen. European tours playing and conducting Beethoven concertos with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. European, US and Japan tours with the Bamberger Symphoniker and Jonathan Nott. Concertos by Beethoven, Ravel and Benjamin with orchestras including the Cleveland, Berliner Philharmoniker, Danish National Symphony, I Pomeriggi Musicali and Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg. Vocal recitals with Christine Schäfer in Germany and Matthias Goerne in Japan. Recital & Reading with Alfred Brendel in Vienna. Numerous solo recitals in the US, Europe and Japan. Festival appearances include Salzburg, Styriarte, Aix-en-Provence, Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center and the BBC Proms

2010

Concerto appearances include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Bartók under Boulez), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Carter and Ravel under Levine), Cleveland Orchestra (Ravel concertos under Boulez, recorded by Deutsche Grammophon), Berliner Philharmoniker (Schoenberg with Belohlávek), London Symphony Orchestra (Mozart under Harding), Concertgebouw (Benjamin under Robertson), Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (Ravel Concerto for the left Hand with Mikhail Agrest) and NHK Symphony Orchestra (Ravel G major Concerto with Dutoit). Concerts at La Scala with Gustavo Dudamel. Vocal recitals with Goerne in Brussels, Athens and Lisbon. Recital & Reading with Brendel in Germany and Vienna. Various solo recital appearances throughout Europe, the US, Moscow and Tokyo. Festival appearances include Baden-Baden, Ruhr, Styriarte, Lucerne, BBC Proms, Aldeburgh, Tanglewood, Mostly Mozart and Music Now in Chicago. Release this year: the Ravel concertos with the Cleveland Orchestra under Boulez plus Miroirs (“Best Recording of the Year” at the Victoires de la Musique Classique)

2011

This year’s concerto appearances include the Cleveland Orchestra (Bartók Concerto no. 2 and Schumann under Welser-Möst) in Cleveland and on US tour including Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall; Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (Messiaen Réveil and Ravel Concerto for the left Hand with Chung); Mahler Chamber Orchestra on tour of Germany and Vienna (Chopin Concerto no. 2 with Robin Ticciati); and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe with Mozart Concertos at the Styriarte Festival and in Paris. Vocal recital with Thomas Quasthoff performing Schubert’s Winterreise at the Salzburg Festival. Recitals in Germany, Eindhoven, Bruges, Vienna, London, Luxembourg, Princeton, Atlanta, China and Japan. Aimard honors Franz Liszt’s 200th birthday with an extensive 2 CD release in which he juxtaposes a selection of Liszt’s works with compositions by Liszt’s contemporaries and successors

2012

Plans so far include concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Royal Concertgebouworkest, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Numerous recitals throughout Europe, in the US and in China