Hailed as “one of the best pianists in the world,” Jean-Yves Thibaudet continues to captivate audiences around the world with his thrilling performances, profound artistry, poetic musicality and dazzling technical prowess, and is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, conductors and collaborative musicians. Thibaudet’s 2010-11 touring highlights include a tour of China with the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as a German tour with the Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, and include appearances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre National de Lyon, among numerous others. This season he also appears in the U.S. with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New World Symphony Orchestra and the symphony orchestras of Detroit, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Minnesota and Seattle. Jean-Yves Thibaudet was born in Lyon, France, where he began his piano studies at age five and made his first public appearance at age seven. At twelve, he entered the Paris Conservatory to study with Aldo Ciccolini and Lucette Descaves, a friend and collaborator of Ravel. At age fifteen, he won the Premier Prix du Conservatoire and three years later, won the Young Concert Artists Auditions in New York City. In 2001, the Republic of France awarded Thibaudet the prestigious Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and in 2002, he was awarded the Premio Pegasus from the Spoleto Festival in Italy for his artistic achievements and his long-standing involvement with the festival. In 2007, he was awarded the Victoire d'Honneur, a lifetime career achievement award and the highest honor given by France's Victoires de la Musique.Jean-Yves Thibaudet is an exclusive recording artist for Decca, which has released over 40 of his albums, earning the Schallplattenpreis, the Diapason d’Or, Choc de la Musique, a Gramophone Award, two Echo awards, and the Edison Prize. In Spring 2010, Jean-Yves Thibaudet released his latest CD, Gershwin, featuring “big jazz band” orchestrations of Rhapsody in Blue, Variations on ‘I Got Rhythm’, and Concerto in F live with the Baltimore Symphony and music director Marin Alsop. The incomparable Jean-Yves Thibaudet will join Marin Alsop and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra this season as soloist in James MacMillan’s Piano Concerto No. 3 Mysteries of Light on opening night, August 5, and in Behzadran Ranjbaran’s Concerto for Piano on August 6.
