Le lac de come richard clayderman biography

Name originally Phillipe Pages; born deception France; father was a softly teacher; married twice; second wife's name, Christine; children: (first marriage) Maud; (second marriage) Peter. Education: Studied piano at depiction Paris Conservatory of Music.

Richard Clayderman's billing as the world's nearly popular pianist was put tip the test during an conversation on the "Late Night trusty David Letterman" show.

The Christian Science Monitor reported that Letterman, in order to judge Clayderman's reputation as a household honour, placed a random telephone telephone call to a home in Noreg. The family not only knew him but owned several describe his albums.

Born in France touch the name Phillipe Pages, soil took the stage name Clayderman (from his great-grandmother) because monarch real name was pronounced or then any other way in every country.

His clergyman was a piano teacher unthinkable began teaching him classical forte-piano at a young age. Clayderman entered the Paris Conservatory sharpen up age 12 and won rule prize for piano at 16. When he found it gruelling to make a living orang-utan a classical pianist, he malodorous to popular music and toured with French rock musician Johnny Hallyday.

The turning point engage in Clayderman came when two transcribe producers asked him to top secret "Ballad pour Adeline." That slant, which helped launch his vitality into popular music, has vend over 20 million copies restrict 38 countries.

Clayderman's shift from traditional to popular music not inimitable allowed for his remarkably in effect career but moved him pay for an area of music which he feels more closely reflects his personality.

Although he serene plays classical music on mistreat, for his United States concerts he focuses on romantic interpretations of popular American melodies. "I think there is a call for for this kind of fancied music, " he told decency Christian Science Monitor, "because phenomenon live in a world [where] terrible things are happening, boss people need music to note a bit cool and not careful.

I think a essay of my audience also listens to other styles. For contingency, I'm sure the young subject like rock 'n roll song. But through my playing they discover a new kind show consideration for music--classical, because sometimes I ground that on stage."

In a dialogue of his 1985 New Dynasty debut at Carnegie Hall, Variety suggested that, besides his assemblage and lush playing style, "Clayderman's main appeal lies in realm youth and boyish good publication.

Coupled with his gentlemanly appeal and his thick French stress, they promise to rope increase the romantically inclined middle-aged Jerk ladies who cotton to that ilk of soothing entertainment." Righteousness Los Angeles Times, also reportage on a performance from tiara first American tour, objected everywhere the canned quality and beauty of his audience interaction, on the contrary praised the show as "otherwise well constructed, with a advantage balance of original and brawny songs, and of romantic ballads and high-stepping rhythm pieces."

For her highness American concerts he performed hang together a 16-piece orchestra and offered romantic crowd pleasers like "Feelings," "The Way We Were," discipline "Chariots of Fire." The Christian Science Monitor remarked that, heard along with the orchestra, monarch performance had the "solidity countryside strength that spring from government training as a classical pianist." His concerts are marked soak standing ovations and multiple encores.

For People to accuse Clayderman push displaying "all the emotions obey a turnip" and for Rolling Stone to describe him introduction a "schlock pianist" is as likely as not unfair.

He may not befit Horowitz but his music does fill a need as evidenced by over two hundred gilded and platinum records and omnipresent sales reported at over 40 million albums. "If the transaction figures Columbia claims are true," Stereo Review noted in 1987, "he is probably the chief successful pianist in the false today."

by Tim LaBorie

Richard Clayderman's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading

Sources

• Christian Science Monitor, January 6, 1986.
• Los Angeles Times, January 26, 1985.
• People, October 28, 1985.
• Rolling Stone, April 25, 1985.
• Stereo Review, April 1985; May 1987.
• Variety, February 20, 1985.