Profile

Born in 1980, Romain Descharmes was awarded First Prize in the Dublin International Piano Competition in 2006, leading him to perform recitals on such prestigious stages as Wigmore Hall in London, National Concert Hall in Dublin, Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama, Hakuju Hall in Tokyo and Salle Cortot in Paris. In 2008 he will perform for the first time at Carnegie Hall in New York, before embarking on a series of concerts in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya). He has also been awarded prizes at other international competitions (Shanghai, Hamamatsu, Alessandro Casagrande), and has received the support of the Yamaha and Natexis-Banque Populaire foundations. In 2004 he became an affiliate of the Charles Cross Acadamy.

He studied at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris, where he won four first prizes (piano, chamber music, piano accompaniment and vocal accompaniment) while studying with Jacques Rouvier, Christian Ivaldi, Jean Koerner and Anne Grappotte. Later, he continued his studies first with Jacques Rouvier and then Bruno Rigutto, during which time he was awarded a scholarship by the Meyer Foundation for cultural and artistic development, and made a recording of works by early twentieth century composers. For this project he received the advice of Pierre Boulez. He has also taken masterclasses with Dimitri Bashkirov, Idil Biret, John O’Conor and Oxana Yablonskaya.

Romain Descharmes frequently gives recitals in France (including Rencontres Internationales Frederic Chopin, Serres d’Auteuil, Nancyphonies, Ars Terra, Aix-en-Provence, Saint Jean-de-Luz, Estivales de Musique au Coeur du Medoc, Agora Festival) and abroad (including recitals at Beirut, Leipzig, Naples, Lisbon Opera, and Festival Cervantino in Mexico). He has also participated in numerous broadcasts for television and radio (France-Musiques, Mezzo, NHK Japan).

He has appeared in concert with orchestras in USA (Midland Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra), in Ireland (National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, National Youth Orchestra of Ireland), in England, in Italy (Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese), in France (Orchestre de la Garde Republicaine, Nouvel Ensemble Instrumental du Conservatoire de Paris), in Japan, and in China (Shanghai Philarmonic Orchestra).

He is also a much sought-after chamber musician. He is renowned for his sensitive playing and has a wide repertoire, which ranges from sonatas to larger ensemble pieces, as well as lieder, of which he is particularly fond.. He has collaborated with such artists as Roland Daugareil, Rodney Friend, Sarah Nemtanu, the Court-Circuit Ensemble, the Satie Quartet and the Berliner Quintette.

Romain Descharmes is to soon make a recording of Brahms pieces for Claudio Records in London