Piano Aux Jacobins makes overtures to Beijing

Now in its fifth China appearance, the world-renowned Piano Aux Jacobins Festival 2009 hits Beijing with three performances throughout June. The oldest piano festival in France and the first French festival dedicated solely to the piano, the 30-year-old traveling concert has added jazz to its already impressive lineup of chamber and classical musicians.

As Beijing’s music scene continues to grow, world-renowned musicians and festivals are competing to play in the capital, where audiences are enthusiastically embracing new music and musicians.

“Our experience has been very exhilarating,” says Piano Aux Jacobins organizer Anaïs Deloince-Papin. “We are very happy to see a young and attentive audience increase in numbers each year at our concerts.”

This year’s line up includes Edouard Ferlet, considered one of the world’s premier young jazz pianists. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston where he won the Berklee Jazz Performance Award, Ferlet has impressed audiences worldwide with original compositions and an extensive repertoire.

Ferlet is part of a jazz trio led by bass player Jean-Philippe Viret. They’ve recorded a slew of albums including Considerations, Etant Donnes, L’indicible, Autrement Dit, Live at the Duc des Lombards and Le Temp Pu’il Faut. In 2004, he released his first solo album Par Tous Les Temps, a hit with both critics and fans. L’echarpe D’iris, the first album released under his new jazz label Melisse, won accolades throughout the jazz community and is considered by many as the best jazz album of 2007. Ferlet also pens music for films and theater scripts.

Ferlet is not the only big name on the list. Chamber pianist Romain Descharmes and classical pianist Stephen Kovacevich will both perform at the festival.

“Beijing audiences can expect to see emotionally moving performances from the world’s best pianists at the Piano Aux Jacobins Festival,” says Deloince-Papin.

“All of the European musicians who came [to previous festivals] were impressed with the passion for piano in this new Chinese audience,” explains Deloince-Papin. “All of them wish to return to China.”

Laura Fitch

The Details
What: Edward Ferlet
When: Sunday, June 7
Where: Forbidden City Concert Hall
Tel: 6417-7845

The Full Schedule of Piano Aux Jacobins
May 5, Piano Aux Jacobins: Stephen Kovacevich
May 6, Piano Aux Jacobins: Romain Descharmes
May 7, Piano Aux Jacobins: Edouard Feriet