Benjamin Alard

Benjamin Alard (born 13 July 1985, Rouen, France) is a French classical organist, harpsichordist and clavichordist.

Benjamin Alard
Benjamin Alard in 2017
Benjamin Alard in 2017
Background information
Born (1985-07-13) 13 July 1985
Rouen, France
GenresBaroque music
Instrument(s)Organ, Harpsichord, Clavichord, Claviorgan, Pedal harpsichord, Clavicytherium
LabelsHarmonia Mundi
Websitewww.benjaminalard.net

Biography

Studies and competitions

Benjamin Alard's principal passion has always been the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and it was for his interpretation of this great composer that he was awarded First Prize and Prize of the audience in the 2004 International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges.[1]

While still quite young he began studying music in his hometown in Dieppe, France. He was soon drawn to the organ and entered the Conservatory of Rouen where he studied with Louis Thiry and François Ménissier.

He was first introduced to the harpsichord by Elizabeth Joyé, with whom he studied in Paris before going on, in 2003, to the Schola Cantorum in Basel to work with Jörg-Andreas Bötticher, Jean-Claude Zehnder and Andrea Marcon.

Career

Since 2005 he has been organist of the Bernard Aubertin organ in the church of Saint-Louis-en-l'Île in Paris where each season he gives concerts about the music of Bach.

Today Benjamin Alard divides his time between performing recitals and Chamber music on both the harpsichord and organ. He often performs repertoire for two harpsichords with Elisabeth Joyé, in duo with the violinist François Fernandez or in trio but also with flautist Emmanuel Pahud. He is regularly invited to perform as soloist or concertist in music series in Europe, Japan and North America.

Benjamin Alard performs regularly in principal musical centers world-wide, from Paris to Moscow and Saint-Peterbourg (Mariinsky Theatre) and further afield, to Tokyo, Washington, San Diego, Boston, Madrid, Barcelona, Switzerland or Belgium.

Discography

Alard in 2010

Benjamin Alard has recorded for the label Hortus and has made several recordings of works by J.S. Bach for Alpha Classics (Trio Sonatas, Clavier-Übung I and II). His recordings have consistently received high praise from the press and have been awarded multiple prizes. He now devotes himself to the complete works for harpsichord and organ solo of Johann Sebastian Bach for harmonia mundi. Seven boxes, of 18, are already available. The artistic approach of Benjamin Alard, as well as his huge project, have been widely acclaimed by classical magazines and cultural medias around the world.[2][3][4][5][6] In October 2022, harmonia mundi has published the seventh volume dedicated to Bach's "Orgelbüchlein".

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): The Complete Works for Keyboard

Source:[7]

Other harpsichord recordings

Other organ recordings

Artistic collaborations

References

  1. "MA Competition (Bruges, Belgium) - 2004 Harpsichord Laureates". macompetition.com.
  2. ""Dieser Musiker verfolgt eine Lebensaufgabe: die Einspielung des Gesamtwerks für Tasteninstrumente von Johann Sebastian Bach." Regine Müller (Germany)". www.rondomagazin.de. April 2019.
  3. ""It will undoubtedly be one of the most important recording projects of this century." David A. McConnell (Worldwide)". theclassicreview.com. April 2020.
  4. ""… he [Benjamin Alard] is a classy player, and this is certainly a project with the potential to tell us much about its noble subject. Definitely worth following." Lindsay Kemp (United Kingdom)". www.gramophone.co.uk. July 2020.
  5. ""L'artiste s'est lancé dans une audacieuse intégrale de l'oeuvre pour clavier de Bach. Toute sa musique pour clavecin et pour orgue. Une aventure au long cours dont les premières étapes dévoilent déjà bien des trésors." Philippe Venturini (France)". www.lesechos.fr. February 2021.
  6. ""Le fulgurant, péremptoire, parfois visionnaire Benjamin Alard poursuit au clavecin, à l'orgue et sur un clavicorde plus muséal une intégrale de l'œuvre pour clavier de Bach qui fera date" Christophe Huss (Canada)". www.ledevoir.com. November 2021.
  7. "Benjamin Alard's page about Bach's keyboard integral". www.harmoniamundi.com.
  8. "Gramophone Editor's Choice". www.gramophone.co.uk. May 2022.
  9. "The Best Classical Music Albums of 2022 (So Far)". www.gramophone.co.uk. November 2022.
  10. "Diapason d'or pour le Bach de Benjamin Alard". www.diapasonmag.fr. May 2022.
  11. "I dischi 5 stelle del mese" (PDF). www.rivistamusica.com. March 2022.
  12. "Discos Excepcionales de mayo 2021". scherzo.es. May 2021.
  13. "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik - Category: keyboard instruments". www.schallplattenkritik.de. March 2020.
  14. "Critics' Choice 2020: Albums of the year". www.gramophone.co.uk. December 2020.
  15. "Discos Excepcionales de octubre 2020". scherzo.es. October 2020.
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