Philippe Entremont - Entremont Plays Chopin: The Four Ballades (2019)

As a pianist Philippe Entremont is recognized for his performances in the early 20th century repertory and music of the Classical era. Yet, he also has performed and recorded the concertos of the major Romantic composers, as well as conducting orchestral works from the same periods.

Entremont's father was a conductor, who, when Philippe was a boy, was conductor at the Strasbourg Opera. Philippe's mother was a pianist, who gave him his first lessons. He studied with Marguerite Long, then in 1944 he went to study at the Paris Conservatory with Jean Doyen. At the age of 12 Entremont won the Harriet Cohen Piano Medal. At the Conservatory he won the first prizes in solfège when he was 12, in chamber music when he was 15, and in piano when he was 16.

He made his professional debut in 1951 in Barcelona and began touring in Europe. He made his American debut on January 5, 1953, with the National Orchestral Association, Jacques Barzun conducting. He became particularly well-known for his interpretations of music by such composers as Milhaud, Stravinsky, Jolivet, and Bernstein. He has appeared as a pianist on five continents in practically every major musical center and with the great orchestras for the world. He also appeared in chamber music presentations, frequently with flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal.

In 1967 he took up conducting professionally. From 1976-2006 he was principal conductor and musical director of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. Between 1981 and 1986, he was music director of the New Orleans (Louisiana) Symphony Orchestra, returning as a soloist in 2007 to open its second post-Hurricane Katrina season. Entremont held posts with the Denver (Colorado) Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre des Concerts Colonnes in Paris, the Chamber Orchestra of the Netherlands, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Munich Symphony Orchestra, and others not only in Europe and the Americas, but in Asia as well. Entremont also founded the Santo Domingo Music Festival, a biennial event attracting renowned artists to the Dominican Republic. He was one of 10 pianists performing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the "Piano Extravaganza of the Century."

Entremont is active as a teacher, serving director of the American Conservatory of Fontainebleau and president of other educational music organizations. His recordings have won the Grand Prix du Disque and the Netherlands Edison Award, to name just two of many, and he has received honors for his artistry from France and Austria. ~ Joseph Stevenson

Tracklist:

01. Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
02. Ballade No. 2 in F Major Op. 38
03. Ballade No. 3 in A-Flat Major, Op. 47
04. Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op.52