CONCERT BY CANDELIGHT | PIERRE-LAURENT BOUCHARLAT (GUEST)

French pianist Pierre-Laurent Boucharlat pursues a career as a soloist, chamber musician, concerto performer, and educator. He gained international recognition in 2000 with the release of his recording of Frédéric Chopin’s 24 Études, Op. 10 and Op. 25. Since then, he has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.

Ludwig van Beethoven occupies a central place in his repertoire. In 2023 and 2024, Boucharlat performed the complete cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas twice. He is also recognized for his interpretations of the French repertoire, particularly the works of Debussy, Fauré, Ravel, and Poulenc, as well as for his chamber music performances.

Having made his orchestral debut at the age of thirteen, he has performed with numerous symphony orchestras, presenting approximately twenty different piano concertos. He is also active in contemporary music; works dedicated to him include Gérard Gastinel’s Lignes d’Ombre and Juan-Francisco Tortosa-Esteve’s Mikado Concerto, which he premiered in Spain in 2019.

A graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, Boucharlat continued his studies at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris in the class of Jean-Claude Pennetier. He also studied with Monique Deschaussées, a pupil of Alfred Cortot and Edwin Fischer. He is a recipient of the Darius Milhaud International Prize (1997) and the Spedidam Prize (1999). He also serves as Artistic Director of festivals and piano competitions in France.