Jean-Yves Thibaudet in an interview

"My favorite cars are from Ferrari."

As one of the most sought-after soloists of our time, Jean-Yves Thibaudet possesses the rare ability to combine poetic sensibility with dazzling technical skill. His talent for drawing delicate, surprising colors and textures from every piece was described by the New York Times as follows: "Every note he shapes is a pearl... The joy, brilliance, and musicality of his playing cannot be missed." Thibaudet's musical depth and natural charisma have propelled him to a career that has taken him around the world for 30 years and is reflected in over 40 albums.

Classicpoint.ch: You are Artist in Residence at the Menuhin Festival Gstaad this year. What can we expect?
As Artist in Residence, I have the opportunity to stay longer than usual. I will have a week in Gstaad for rehearsals, discussions, and concerts. That's wonderful, and I'm very much looking forward to it. I will be playing Ravel's Piano Concerto, a recital with Sol Gabetta , and a piano quintet.

You regularly commission new works. What criteria do you use to select your composers?
First and foremost, the music has to move me. It doesn't matter whether it's contemporary or not. Composers whose music can evoke my emotions are interesting to me.

Do you also give specific instructions for the composition, or do you give the composer free rein?
I give the composer complete freedom. Every two years, I try to commission new works. Helping and being present when good new music is created is very important to me.

You received a traditional French piano education from your teacher, Lucette Descaves. How would you characterize the typically French tradition?
That's hard to say. Actually, these traditions have already died out. Today, when everyone is mobile and attends masterclasses all over the world, traditions are blending, and students have a universal, global education. The earlier French tradition was often characterized as superficial. That's nonsense. I would define it as particularly colorful. People tried to seek out the colors in order to play with as much color as possible.

Your teacher was herself a student and friend of Ravel. What is your relationship to Ravel's music?
I've had a very special relationship with Ravel since childhood. The first orchestral work I heard, when I was three, was Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé. Later, when I was eleven and allowed to give my first concert as a soloist with an orchestra, I chose the Ravel Piano Concerto. My teacher wasn't enthusiastic at first and said it was far too difficult. But I insisted, I really wanted it, and I worked on it with her until she let me.

You love fast cars and change them every year. What cars do you currently drive, and what are your favorite routes?
My favorite cars are Ferraris. Even as a three-year-old, I knew what a Ferrari was and said that I would drive one someday. It's always a wonderful experience for me to be out and about in a Ferrari. By the way, I always buy my Ferraris in Basel. Perhaps I can arrange to drive the Ferrari to Gstaad. Driving through the mountain landscape over the passes would be wonderful.

What kind of music do you listen to while driving?
All sorts: pop, jazz, world music, etc., except classical. With classical music, I have to concentrate while listening and can't just have it playing in the background.

You live in Los Angeles and have an apartment in Paris. Where do you feel more at home?
Although I'm French, I feel much more at home in Los Angeles. The climate, the people, the atmosphere, and the lifestyle really suit me.

Interview by Florian Schär | Classicpoint.ch | June 1, 2015

Next concerts

June 26, 2027 - Eleanor Lyons (soprano), Maayan Licht (soprano), Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano), WDR Symphony Orchestra, Oliver Zeffman (conductor), Sasha Velour (drag queen)