Henri Barda, a French secret at Gaveau

There are some remarkable pianists rather little-known, only their peers and people in the know are aware of them. Quite often because they have spent most of their time teaching or have not opted for an international soloist life. Great masters like Jean Martin, Ventsislav Yankoff, Fou Ts’ong, Pierre Sancan or Jean Hubeau. Or Henri Barda. The French pianist, born in Cairo in 1941, performed in recital, salle Gaveau.

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Jean-Claude Casadesus and the Orchestre du Conservatoire

Maestro Jean-Claude Casadesus was conducting the Orchestre du Conservatoire (the orchestra of the students of Paris Music Conservatoire) at the Philharmonie de Paris.

Difficult to say who was the most enthusiastic and passionate between the 81 year old conductor and the young members of the orchestra. As a matter of fact, they seemed to energize one another!

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Sunday morning with Tedi Papavrami, Xavier Phillips and François-Frédéric Guy

Sunday morning concert at the TCE with violinist Tedi Papavrami, cellist Xavier Phillips and pianist François-Frédéric Guy.

I remember the 1st time I saw Tedi Papavrami, who was the first of them I heard in concert: he played a Mozart Violin Concerto under the baton of the tremendous Kurt Sanderling with the wonderful Orchestre de Paris.

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Rafał Blechacz in recital at the Philharmonie

Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz gave a recital at the Philharmonie. His programme included 3 composers of different times and works of different moods.

First, JS Bach’s 4 Duos – pieces which are rarely played -, masterworks that Blechacz performed perfectly, giving the music its freshness and natural, with at the same time a complete understanding and respect of their architecture.

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