Biography
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 worked closely with the composer on his music. 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 from 1992 are released in Deutsche Grammophon’s 6-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. 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. 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
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, Bach’s Art of Fugue and Messiaen’s Oiseaux exotiques. 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
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. 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), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Carter and Ravel), Cleveland Orchestra (Ravel Concertos), Berliner Philharmoniker (Schoenberg), London Symphony Orchestra (Mozart), Concertgebouw (Benjamin), Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (Ravel Concerto for the left Hand) and NHK Symphony Orchestra (Ravel G major Concerto). Concerts at La Scala with Gustavo Dudamel. Vocal recitals with Goerne in Brussels, Athens and Lisbon. 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 an extended period with the Cleveland Orchestra (Bartók and Schumann under Welser-Möst) at home and on US tour including Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall; Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (Messiaen and Ravel); Mahler Chamber Orchestra on tour of Germany and Vienna (Chopin); and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe with Mozart Concertos at the Styriarte Festival and in Paris. 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
Engagements include a European tour with Simon Rattle and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (Ravel D major) as well as appearances with the Cleveland Orchestra (Mozart), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Schoenberg), Concertgebouw Orchestra (Ligeti and Murail), Berlin Staatskapelle (Birtwistle), Berliner Philharmoniker (Ives), Swedish Chamber Orchestra (Mozart, Ligeti and Beethoven), Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala (Bartók, Ives, Varèse), Orchestre National de Lyon (Beethoven) and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (Mozart, Ligeti and Beethoven). Lieder recitals with Matthias Goerne in Freiburg, Cologne and Brussels. Numerous solo recitals throughout Europe (including at the BBC Proms and the Aix-en-Provence, Lucerne, Helsinki and Berlin festivals), the US and Asia. CD release this year: both books of Debussy Préludes
7/2012