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"I first became interested in Yamaha pianos," reveals French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, "because of my admiration for Sviatoslav Richter." Indeed, the legendary Richter, by any measure one of the greatest pianists who ever lived, played Yamaha pianos for 25 years. Yet, it's just possible that some years from now another rising pianist will say the same of Bavouzet — whose own playing, states The British MusicWeb, "is restricted to a most narrow range: wonderful to superb."
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The Yamaha artist is enjoying remarkable success. His recent performances include appearances with the Boston Symphony, the Berliner Sinfonie Orchester, the Orchestre de Paris with Pierre Boulez and the London Philharmonic among others, and in the 2004-2005 season he will offer complete solo works of Ravel as well as participate in projects of the complete Beethoven Sonatas and the complete Schumann solo works cycles. His recent CD release of Ravel (on MDG, Germany) received the "Choc" from Le Monde de la Musique, the "Diapason d'or," and "Best Recording of the Month" from Stereo. BBC Music Magazine said it was "thrilling both for its bravura and evocative force," and named it "first choice" among 32 historic recordings.
Bavouzet, in addition to his performing activities, was named Professor for Life in the Piano Department of the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany. He took time from his busy schedule recently to talk about the importance of Yamaha to his life and career.
"When I was living in a Paris flat, it did not afford me much opportunity to practice," he remembers, "Yamaha allowed me to practice in their facilities in Paris, and it became almost my second home, though my wife used to say that it was my first home. At the time, they were very eager to get feedback on their pianos, which were constantly improving. Today, they are among the finest instruments in the world. When I sit in front of a Yamaha piano I feel a sense of ease. The touch of the piano is very agreeable, and I am able to shape the sound as if I were painting on a white canvas."
"I played Oliver Messiaen's Reveil des Oiseaux with the Boston Symphony," he continues, "and Messiaen's widow, the pianist Yvonne Loriod, advised me to use a Yamaha for the performance." The Boston Globe wrote of that performance: "His imaginative, accurate, and beautiful playing honored his impressive pedigree."
"Recently," says Bavouzet, "I played Schumann along with six colleagues at the music festival La Roque d'Anthéron, and we all used a Yamaha piano. I love to play Haydn, Ravel and Scarlatti on a Yamaha. And, I am interested in more than just the acoustic instruments. Last week I practiced Bach suites on a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano and was flabbergasted by the harpsichord and pipe organ sounds. It helped me a lot to prepare."
More information about this intriguing performer can be found by visiting:
www.jwentworth.com/bavouzet/bavouzet.htm.
