Claude Helffer

Claude Helffer (June 18, 1922 – October 27, 2004) was a French pianist noted particularly for his advocacy of 20th-century music.

Related Topics:
June 18 - 1922 - October 27 - 2004

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He was born in Paris, and began piano lessons at the age of five and from the age of ten until the outbreak of World War II he studied with Robert Casadesus. During the War he entered the élite École polytechnique after having fought for the Resistance (in the maquis de Vercors). After the War he studied theory and composition with René Leibowitz. He made his début in Paris in 1948 and from 1954 appeared regularly in the concerts of the Domaine musical.

Related Topics:
Paris - World War II - Robert Casadesus - École polytechnique - Resistance - René Leibowitz - Domaine musical

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Helffer gave many premières of new works and was the dedicatee of several notable works, including Erikhthon (Xenakis, 1974), Concerto (Boucourechliev, 1975), Stances (Betsy Jolas, 1978), Concerto no. 1 (Luis de Pablo, 1980), Envoi (Gilles Tremblay, 1982), and Modifications (Michael Jarrell, 1983). Conductors he collaborated with included Boulez, Bour, Gielen, Leibowitz, Maderna, Marriner, Martinon, Van Otterloo, Prêtre and Scherchen. His discography includes the complete piano music of Schoenberg (Grand Prix du Disque), Debussy and Ravel and the Sonatas of Boulez, Berg and Barraqué.

Related Topics:
Xenakis - Boucourechliev - Betsy Jolas - Luis de Pablo - Gilles Tremblay - Michael Jarrell - Boulez - Bour - Gielen - Leibowitz - Maderna - Marriner - Martinon - Van Otterloo - Prêtre - Scherchen - Schoenberg - Debussy - Ravel - Boulez - Berg - Barraqué

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Helffer gave masterclasses all over the world, most notably at the Salzburg Summer Academy from 1985 to 1998.

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