Composer, organist and improviser, Thierry Escaich is a unique figure on the contemporary music scene and one of the major representatives of the new generation of French composers.. The three aspects of his art are inseparable, which allows him to mix in his concerts creation, improvisation and interpretation in the most diverse combinations.
As composer, Thierry Escaich addresses the most varied genres and workforces, in an incessant quest for new sonic horizons. His work includes around a hundred pieces, who seduce a large audience with their incandescent lyricism and relentless rhythm. Being in the lineage of Ravel, Messiaen and Dutilleux, and not refusing the contributions of popular music or elements of sacred inspiration, Escaich’s sound world is based on an obsessive rhythmic momentum and powerful architectures.
His very personal style shines through as much in the intimacy of his chamber music as in vast frescoes likeChaconnefor orchestra, the oratoryThe Last Gospel or the double concerto for violin and celloMirror of shadows. His first opera, Claude, on a libretto by Robert Badinter based onClaude Gueuxby Victor Hugo, was created at the Opéra national de Lyon in March 2013 and received critical acclaim. Among his most recent compositions, let's quoteThe Night of Songs, viola concerto written for Antoine Tamestit, commissioned by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and the NDR Elbphilharmonie, andFour Faces of Time (third organ concerto), created in Japan, whose European premiere was given by Thierry Escaich and the Orchester national de Lyon in November 2017.
The pieces of Thierry Escaich are included in the repertoire of the greatest orchestras both in Europe and in the United States., and that of musicians such as Lisa Batiashvili and François Leleux, Valery Gergiev, SpongeBob Lake, Alan Gilbert, Alain Altinoglu, Louis Langrée, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Emmanuelle Bertrand and Paul Meyer. He was composer in residence at the Orchester national de Lyon, at the Lille National Orchestra and the Paris Chamber Orchestra and received four Victoires de la Musique (2003, 2006, 2011 and 2017). He has been teaching since 1992 improvisation and writing at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris (CNSMDP), where he himself won eight first prizes. In 2013, he was elected to the Academy of Fine Arts of the Institut de France. In 2018, he was the composer in the spotlight at the Présences festival on Radio France, in Paris.
Thierry Escaich has also composed extensively for his own instrument : solo pieces, chamber music, three concertos, andThe solar boat, symphonic poem for organ and orchestra. Son First Organ Concertowas played notably by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Orchester national de Lyon, and was selected as a must-have in the organ repertoire by the magazineGramophone: «His concerto exploits the entire sound palette and the orchestra and organ in three electrifying movements, the second movement swelling to an impressive peak, which is only surpassed by the shattering coda of the finale. »
Thierry Escaich’s career as a composer is closely linked to that of an organist, like Maurice Duruflé – whom he succeeded as titular organist of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris; today he is one of the main ambassadors of the great French school of improvisation. He performs in recitals all over the world, mixing works from the repertoire with his own compositions and improvisations. His passion for cinema leads him to regularly improvise on the piano and organ on silent films such asThe Phantom of the Opera andMetropolis.
Among the highlights of the season 2021/2022, let us cite the world creation at the Lyon Opera, in mai 2022, from his operaMy plan, initially scheduled for May 2020. Thierry Escaich also returns to the Dresden Philharmonic, where he is organist in residence for the season. He also plays with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra., the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, the Taiwan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lyon National Orchestra, and performs in recital at the Dresden Philharmonic, at the Mariinsky Concert Hall (Saint PETERSBOURG), Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow and Toulouse-les-orgues.
Escaich’s new opera, Highlight, is on the program at the Opéra national de Bordeaux and the Opéra-Théâtre de Saint-Étienne, and hisFlute Concerto experienced his first public execution, performed by Joséphine Olech and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2022 ; a month later, the global creation ofArising Dances by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and Valery Gergiev welcomed the inauguration of the Isarphilharmonie.
The different facets of his art are illustrated in an abundant discography, widely rewarded and published notably by Accord/Universal and Indesens. Recently, his recordBaroque Song, recorded by the Lyon Opera Orchestra, was published by Sony Classical to critical acclaim. And the CDHallucinated Nights (2011), which crowns his residency with the Orchester national de Lyon, received numerous distinctions, notably a “Shock of the year” ofClassical. The global creation ofClaude at the Lyon Opera has been released on DVD (BelAir Classics).
ENGLISH VERSION
Composer, organist and improviser Thierry Escaich is a unique figure in contemporary music and one of the most important French composers of his generation. The three elements of Escaich’s artistry are inseparable, allowing him to express himself as a performer, creator and collaborator in a wide range of settings.
Composer, organist and improviser Thierry Escaich is a unique figure in contemporary music and one of the most important French composers of his generation. The three elements of Escaich’s artistry are inseparable, allowing him to express himself as a performer, creator and collaborator in a wide range of settings.
Escaich composes in many genres and forms and his catalogue numbers over 100 works which, with their lyrical, rich harmonies and rhythmic energy, have attracted a wide audience. Drawing from the French line of composition of Ravel, Messiaen and Dutilleux, and imbued with references from contemporary, popular and spiritual music, the distinctive sound-world of Escaich’s music is anchored by an obsessive rhythmic drive and an overarching sense of architecture.
This very personal style encompasses both intimate works and large-scale pieces, such as Chaconne for orchestra; oratorio The Last Gospel and a double concerto for violin and cello, Mirror of shadows. His first operaClaude, on a libretto by Robert Badinter after Victor Hugo’sClaude Gueux, was premiered at the Opéra de Lyon in March 2013 to great acclaim. His most recent new works include a Viola Concerto, The Night of Songs, for Antoine Tamestit commissioned by Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and NDR Elbphilharmonie, and Organ Concerto No.3,Four Faces of Time which received its European premiere by Escaich and Orchestre National de Lyon in November 2017.
Thierry Escaich’s works are performed by leading orchestras in Europe and North America and by musicians such as Lisa Batiashvili and François Leleux, Valery Gergiev, SpongeBob Lake, Alan Gilbert, Alain Altinoglu, Louis Langrée, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Emmanuelle Bertrand and Paul Meyer. Escaich has been Composer-in-Residence with the Orchestre National de Lyon, The National Orchestra of Lille and the Paris Chamber Orchestra and his music have been honored with five ‘Victories of Music’ awards (2003, 2006, 2011, 2017, and 2022). Escaich continues to teach composition and improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire, where he himself studied and obtained eight ‘premiers prix’. In 2013 received the honour of being appointed to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris; in 2018 he took the prestigious role of Featured Composer at the Radio France Présences Festival in Paris.
Works for organ are an important feature of Escaich’s music and they are performed by organists around the world, including solo and chamber works, three concerti and the symphonic poemThe solar boat for organ and orchestra. Escaich’s Organ Concerto No.1 has been performed by orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Orchestre National de Lyon, and was selected as a highlight of the organ concerto repertoire inGramophone: “His concerto exploits the full sonic and colour ranges of orchestra and organ in this thrilling three-movement work, the second movement rising to an awe-inspiring climax only topped by the shattering coda of the finale.”
Thierry Escaich’s career as a composer is closely linked to his career as an organist – one of the ambassadors of the great French school of improvisation in the wake of Maurice Duruflé, whom he succeeded as organist of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris. He appears in recitals internationally, combining repertoire pieces with his own compositions and improvisations. His passion for cinema has led him to perform ‘cine-concerts’, improvised accompaniments on both the organ and piano for silent films such asPhantom of the Opera andMetropolis.
Major upcoming highlights include the world premiere of Escaich’s new operaMy planby Opera de Lyon in May 2022, postponed from May 2020. Escaich also returns regularly to Dresden Philharmonie where he is Organist in Residence for the 2021/22 season. Elsewhere, Escaich performs with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic and Orchestre National de Lyon, and performs widely in recital with appearances at Dresdner Philharmonie, Mariinsky Concert Hall, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Moscow, Auditorium of Lyon and Toulouse-les-orgues.
Escaich’s new chamber operaHighlight is also scheduled to receive its commissioned premieres by Opéra National de Bordeaux and Opéra Théâtre de Saint-Étienne, and his Flute Concerto receives its public world premiere by the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Joséphine Olech.
Many of Escaich’s works have been recorded by Accord/Universal. Most recently the discBaroque Song was released on Sony Classical to critical acclaim. His 2011 releaseHallucinated Nights crowned his residency with the Orchestre National de Lyon, and received numerous distinctions, including a ‘Shock of the Year’ fromClassicalmagazine as an outstanding release of the year. The first production ofClaudewas released on DVD (BelAir Classics).
Thierry Escaich is represented by Intermusica.
2021/212 season / 732 words. Not to be altered without permission.