Jean-Efflam Bavouzet is an internationally-acclaimed pianist visiting us to perform with the Jersey Chamber Orchestra on Saturday 11th May 2024. To buy tickets CLICK HERE
Jean-Efflam: please could you give a few personal/background details?
I was born in Saint Efflam in Brittany quite close to Jersey. But I grew up in Metz. Then at 17 I moved to the Paris Conservatoire. I studied under the guidance of Piere Sancan. He was an all round musician, a pedagogue, and taught me so much. In 1982 I met my wife Andrea who is Hungarian and trained in Budapest, Vienna and then in New York. We were both competing in a piano competition in Santander. She was a child prodigy but my career developed at a later stage. We are both professional artists and play the piano.
You have been to Jersey a few times. Do you enjoy coming to the island?
Andrea and I love coming to Jersey. We love the peacefulness and the mix of the two cultures – it’s a very charming combination of the two cultures – French and English. I’ve been coming more than 5 times and played a number of recitals and performed once before with the Jersey Chamber Orchestra. I remember one of my visits. For the first half I played in my normal clothes as the luggage was lost. Then it arrived by the interval and I could change and play in my concert clothes for the second half. That happened in Jersey. This trip will be the first time I haven’t played as an encore L’isle Joyeuse by Debussy - who wrote the piece in Jersey.
How did your career develop?
I won a competition Young Concert Artists in New York and I started touring in the USA in 1986 – to New York and Washington. It was a wonderful scheme. I was also awarded the first prize in the Beethoven International Piano Competition in Cologne in 1986.
Then I got asked by the great George Solti to play in 1997 with the Orchestra de Paris. Later I was invited to play a concerto at the Proms in London. Things then developed. I was signed to a major label and with Chandos I’ve been able to record all the music that I wanted to. Its over 40 records so we’ve gone far in less than 20 years. They have given me everything I wanted. It’s a blessing and we still have a few more to do.
What can Islanders expect from your performance with the Jersey Chamber Orchestra on Saturday 11th May as part of the International Liberation Music Festival?
Andrea and I are playing a double piano concerto by Mozart. It’s a very interesting combination of movements. The genius of Mozart comes out at his best in the piano concertos. He links them always to operatic situations and performers. In this case, we can see two operatic characters one on each piano. And it’s remarkable how they say the same thing but then one repeats the notes at a different pitch and then the meaning changes. Sometimes one interrupts the other or they are in total harmony and the pianos sing together. Then it is like two singers together in an opera.
The joyfulness of the third movement is always tinged with some dramatic moments. With Mozart one never stays too long in the same mood. You may have half a bar then another feeling. It’s ever-changing music. Our role as pianists is to give it all a meaning. There are some super-fast scales and split runs between both pianos. It’s a general mood that is uplifting and the concerto ends flamboyantly.
How do you interpret a piece?
My goal and task as an interpreter is to do my best so that the piece is delivered with the blessing of the composer. Of course many of the composers we play are no dead. In the case of this composer Mozart, you can only speculate. For me the composer’s vision is my only concern. If I somehow have a glimpse that touches what has inspired them, and if I can be an ambassador of the ultimate beauty they have created, then my mission is accomplished.
When we hear music a lot is happening and hearing music is making your brain work in a specific configuration. Nothing else works like this. Music touches everything in your life. Joy, sadness and every emotion. And the feeling of music. Well it’s a mixture of so many things. As an audience member I want to be taken somewhere. As performers we humbly give life to something which would not exist without us.
How did you go about deciding which particular pieces to perform for the concert?
We are in preparation to finish the cycle of Mozart concertos that I am recording. We started this with the Manchester Camerata and Gábor Takács-Nagy. Mozart wrote some of his best music for the piano and I wanted to perform in advance of recording in the autumn. I spoke to James Mews who is the artistic director of the Jersey Festival and we were delighted to be invited to come to Jersey.
Will this be your first time taking part in the International Liberation Music Festival? And what do you think makes the festival such an important event on the Island's calendar?
It’s an honour to be a part of the Liberation Festival. Each festival has its own philosophy and its own rhythm. I am looking forward to being in Jersey again. It’s wonderful that the Jersey Chamber Orchestra is able to be there. To have an orchestra in such a small place is fantastic and I have great admiration for the people who are carrying out such an organisation because it’s a lot of work. In the orchestra it’s a mixture of amateur and professional players and the people are playing with real pleasure. I love this philosophy and together we will be making music with real joy. I’m looking forward to this.
When and how did you first develop your interest in music? Did it emerge during childhood?
I grew up in a musical family and music was always there. Would I be a fusion rock drummer or a composer writing electronic music? In fact being a piano soloist was at the bottom of the list. When I could play Schumann’s Toccata at a decent speed, I knew that I could possibly go for it. It came late to me compared to other people. Whereas Andrea my wife was a child prodigy even playing the role of Mozart on TV! She was so gifted that they created special courses for super gifted kids who all became famous children together.
Which pianists proved the biggest inspirations for you during the early years of your career?
There are so many pianists who I loved to hear when I was younger. Think about Sviatoslav Richter, Zoltan Kocsis or Mauricio Pollini. There are so many amazing players – think of Martha Agerich or Yuja Wang and how she plays the most difficult things – the list is enormous. And still today I hear young pianists that are truly inspiring. The new pianists are of all types – there are always some distinctive sounds. I am totally confident about the future of music. Things are always changing.
What has been the most memorable live performance of your career, and why?
Of course I love coming to Jersey. But I cannot answer with one. There are too many. The first time on each stage is special. To play at Carnegie Hall. Berlin Philhamonie or the Concertgebouw or the Wigmore. These are iconic concert halls. When you perform there for the first time it is incredible. Then there are the special concerts where you play remarkable programmes. I’ve played all the five Prokofiev concertos in 2 nights or all five Beethoven in 2 nights. It was a very special performance when for the first time I played and conducted. Or there are so many great conductors that I have played with.
Finally, what else do you have planned for 2024?
I am recording the Mozart Double concerto and then the Triple concerto with Andrea and the Manchester Camerata. It will be a real pleasure to finish the series.