Richard Clayderman

Richard Clayderman (born December 28, 1953, Paris, France) is a French pianist who has released numerous albums, including his renditions of some of the works of composers like Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Mozart. He is also known for his symphonical rendition of many modern songs including Yesterday, The Sound of Silence and Memory. Although many may say that he is a classical pianist, such information is debatable since Richard Clayderman predominantly records popular music rather than classical music. His career as a classical pianist is also limited at best. Richard Clayderman mainly plays contemporary love songs.

Criticism

Although a popular and bestselling artist, Clayderman is fiercely criticised? especially by piano (either classical or popular, such as Jazz) lovers, critics, connoisseurs and artists for his limited technique and campy and watered-down performances (for both technical and commercial reasons) of acclaimed classical pieces. He is strongly regarded as a commercially, not artistically oriented artist.

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Richard Clayderman has a very curious market niche on third world countries, a fact mainly attributed by critics for his commercially-orientated performance of local and very popular music (especially love songs), and cheap, well-distributed records. Despite this, many people claim that he is a virtuoso or a great pianist.

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He is considered by many a symbol of Kitsch.

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