PARIS PIANO TRIO

" . . . polish, vigor, and an exemplary sense of style . . . "
--The Washington Post

UPCOMING TOURS:
November 2-18, 2007
November 1-13, 2008

Régis Pasquier, violin
Roland Pidoux, cello
Jean-Claude Pennetier, piano

These three great French soloists have been connected by their love of chamber music since they were students together at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris. In fact, they made their first tour together when Régis Pasquier was just 13 years old. Each graduated with top honors from the Conservatory (where they are all now professors) and rapidly established a major solo career.  

In all the years since, they have consistently made time to tour together on the continent, in England and in Canada . At the peak of their individual careers, they are making an increased commitment to the Trio, where they have the opportunity to express simultaneously their musical individuality and their total musical rapport. The Trio's first major tour of the United States, in January 1998, won superlatives from critics and presenters across the country, and it has since been re-engaged in major cities from Washington to Los Angeles. A very successful debut tour of Latin America in June 2000 has been followed by several return visits.  

The Trio's recordings include Tchaikovsky and Shostakovitch on the Lyrinx label in 1998, the trios of Schubert and Brahms, and the chamber music of Chausson on the Harmonia Mundi label, all released under the name "Les Musiciens," by which they are known in Europe .    

The extraordinary talent of REGIS PASQUIER (violin) was recognized early, when he won first prize in both violin and chamber music at the Paris Conservatory at the age of 12. He went on to win many other awards, including the Prize of the Academy of French Recording, the Georges Enesco Prize, the Charles Cros Prize, 1991's "best soloist" award from the Sixièmes Victoires de la Musique, and the Special Prize of the Nouvelle Academie du Disque. He was named an Officier des Artes et Lettres by the French government in 1991. Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at the Paris Conservatory, he performs annually with major orchestras and in recital around the globe. His extensive discography includes the complete Mozart violin concertos on the Auvidis label.

A true Renaissance man, cellist ROLAND PIDOUX has explored every avenue of classical music. Soon after completing his studies with André Navarra, Jean Hubeau and Joseph Calvet, he founded, with Jean-Pierre Wallez, l'Ensemble Instrumental de France. He has been a member of the Quatour Via Nova and the Trio Pasquier, and has performed with Isaac Stern, Pierre Fournier, Mistislav Rostropovitch, and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Previously a member of l'Orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris under the baton of Rolf Leibermann, he also held a soloist chair in l'Orchestre National de France under Lorin Maazel. He served as artistic director for a series of recordings for Harmonia Mundi, and is currently Professor of Cello at the Paris Conservatory.

From the time he began his piano studies at the age of three and a half, JEAN-CLAUDE PENNETIER has distinguished himself, winning two first prizes at the Paris Conservatory and going on to win major international awards, including the Prix Gabriel Fauré and first prizes at the Concours Genève and Concours International de Montréal. When he was 30, he interrupted his performing career to broaden and deepen his musical experience through such diverse activities as conducting, composing, and participating in musical theatre and opera for children. After several years of exploration and enrichment, M. Pennetier resumed his performing career, and has recently appeared with lÕOrchestre de Paris, l'Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine and the festivals of Prades, Naantali, Kuhmo, and Seattle.