Bertrand Chamayou is among the most sought after French pianists of his generation. Praised for both his virtuosity and probing artistry, he enjoys a growing reputation on the world stage. Recent and upcoming engagements include recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, the Herkulessaal, Musikfest Bremen, Théâtre du Châtelet, and performances with the Orchestre de Paris, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Hessischer Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, the Orchestre National de France, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. ... read full bio

Bertrand Chamayou is among the most sought after French pianists of his generation. Praised for both his virtuosity and probing artistry, he enjoys a growing reputation on the world stage. Recent and upcoming engagements include recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, the Herkulessaal, Musikfest Bremen, Théâtre du Châtelet, and performances with the Orchestre de Paris, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Hessischer Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, the Orchestre National de France, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Since signing an exclusive contract with Naïve, Mr. Chamayou has released a disc of solo works by Mendelssohn (2008), and a highly acclaimed recording of works by César Franck (2010). Between 2003 and 2005, he distinguished himself by performing Liszt’s cycle of twelve Transcendental Studies more than forty times, culminating in a live recording of his last concert, which was released by Sony in 2006. The same year, he was awarded a Victoire de la Musique. In 2010-11, he will appear on tour performing Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage.

Born in Toulouse in 1981, Bertrand studied with Jean-François Heisser at the Paris Conservatoire and then Maria Curcio in London; he has also received guidance from such important mentors as Murray Perahia, Leon Fleisher, and Dimitri Bashkirov. At 20, he was a prize-winner at the prestigious Concours Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud. Since then has been invited to play at many of the world’s greatest festivals and venues, including Salle Pleyel, Théâtre du Châtelet, Wigmore Hall, die Glocke, the Concertgebouw, Domaine Forget, the Essen Philharmonie, Bozar, the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Lucerne Festival, Festival Piano aux Jacobins, Herkulessaal, la Roque d’Anthéron, Festival de Radio-France de Montpellier, Ravenna Festival, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, the Davos Festival, and Musikfest Bremen.
 
Mr. Chamayou has played under such renowned conductors as Andris Nelsons, Yutaka Sado, Michel Plasson, Stéphane Denève, Tugan Sokhiev, Lawrence Foster, Ludovic Morlot, and Christian Arming. He has also appeared with numerous leading orchestras, including the Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Hessischer Rundfunk Orchester Frankfurt, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre National du Capitole, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, the Tapiola Sinfonietta, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.

Recognized for his interpretation of contemporary repertoire, Mr. Chamayou has premiered several compositions and worked with such legends as Henri Dutilleux and Gyorgy Kurtag. He was invited to the festival "Presences" to perform concertos by Thomas Adès and Esa-Pekka Salonen. He is also a celebrated chamber musician, and performs regularly with such artists as Sol Gabetta, Renaud Capuçon, Daishin Kashimoto, Augustin Dumay, Antoine Tamestit, Gautier Capuçon, Eric le Sage, David Guerrier, Paul Meyer, Emmanuel Pahud, as well as the Ebène, Belcea, and Ysaÿe Quartets.