Symphonic Dances Festival: Valčuha Conducts Ravel’s La valse

Conductor Juraj Valčuha is recognized for his effortless expressiveness and depth of musicianship. With sharp baton technique and natural stage presence, the impressive ease of his interpretations translate even the most complex scores into immersive experiences. His profound understanding of composer and score, taste, and naturally elegant style make him one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation.

Through elegant musicality and an insightful approach to contemporary and established repertoire, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest pianists. He is especially known for his diverse interests beyond the classical world, including numerous collaborations in film, fashion, and visual art. A recording powerhouse, Jean-Yves appears on more than 70 albums and six film scores. A devoted educator, he is the first artist-in-residence at the Colburn School, which awards several scholarships in his name.

Jean-Yves appears as soloist in seven compositions this season, performed with 19 orchestras: Gershwin’s Concerto in F, Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5, Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto, Ravel’s Concerto in G, Debussy’s Fantaisie, Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie, and Scriabin’s Prometheus. In addition to his orchestral dates, he joins longtime collaborators Gautier Capuçon and Lisa Batiashvili for a trio tour of the United States. He also continues his multi-season focus on Debussy’s Préludes, performing both books in recitals throughout Europe. With Michael Feinstein, he continues the acclaimed program Two Pianos: Who Could Ask for Anything More? this season, presenting works by Gershwin, Rodgers, and more in new arrangements for piano, voice, and orchestra.

Jean-Yves records exclusively for Decca. His most recent solo album, 2021’s Carte Blanche, features a collection of deeply personal solo piano pieces never before recorded by the pianist. Other highlights from Thibaudet’s catalog include a 2017 recording of Bernstein’s “Age of Anxiety,” recordings of the complete solo piano music of Debussy and Satie, and Grammy-nominated recordings of Ravel’s complete solo piano works and Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerti Nos. 2&5. He is the soloist on Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch; his playing can also be heard in Pride and Prejudice, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Wakefield, and the Oscar-winning and critically acclaimed film Atonement. His concert wardrobe is designed by Dame Vivienne Westwood.