France Clidat

• Pianist
• Teacher

Biography

Born in Nantes, France Clidat early begins her brilliant career, as soon as she obtained many first prices at the conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris . But it is the Liszt price won at the Budapest's contest in 1956, that reinforces her international fame. She gives more than 2700 concerts, plays with the most prestigious orchestras, the famous conductors, and furrows the world, led by an exceptional temperament. If she learned from her teachers the rigor (Lazare Lévy), the expressive power (Emil Gilels), and the denial of ease (Lelia Gousseau), she made her limber and inventive phrasing, her rare motion moderation before the instrument, and her unequalled sonority by herself. This great lady of the music has the imagination and the virtuosity of the top interpreters of the past, but she is especially a formidable ambassadress of the French modern piano.
Her many recordings were granted in France and abroad, particularly the first and famous Liszt integral in 26 discs, which received, among others, the price of the academy of the Hungarian disc. The third Rachmaninov's concerto, the integral of the Erik Satie's work, the Landowski's concerto, Chopin's concertos, mazurkas and polonaises, etc, show that it would be reducing to confine the talent of Clidat France to the only interpretation of Liszt works. Her repertory includes all epochs and musical styles. She premiered a lot and is dedicatee of many work.
In spite of her international engagements, France Clidat is attached to her pedagogical activities. She teaches at the école normale de musique de Paris and gives many masterclasses throughout the world, in particular in Japan. France Clidat is officier de la Légion d'honneur, officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, médaille de vermeil de la Ville de Paris and commandeur des Arts et Lettres.