From the May eNewsletter of the Myrtle Hart Society, MyrtleHart.org:
On Friday, his MySpace page said that he was "deciphering Coleridge-Taylor's piano music." Twenty-four-year-old French Beninese Francis Paraïso began his piano studies at age 12 at the 'Conservatoire National de Région d'Angers'. Three years later, he began to compose for his instrument. In 2001, he obtained his final degrees in piano, chamber music, music theory and musical analysis. He obtained the same degrees in 2004 in a National Music School in Paris.
After his French high school diploma, Francis enrolled in The University of Musicology where he obtained his 'Maîtrise' of Musicology (fourth year of university study) in 2005. By 2006, he had earned his 'DESS' (fifth year of university studies in Direction and Management of Music). In 2007, Francis earned the pianist accompanist degree.
Often concertizing his own piano works and chamber music concerts, he is also the accompanist for the opera and the orchestra and teaches piano in a national music school.
Francis Paraïso's works contain piano pieces, chamber music, a musical, duos voice/piano. His favorite composer is César Frank and among his influences are French composers such as Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Jean Cras, Paul Le Flem, Gabriel Fauré, Guy Ropartz, Louis Vierne, Charles Koechlin, Edvard Grieg, Joaquin Turina, Albert Roussel, Gabriel Dupont, Marcel Labey, Florent Schmitt.
Francis favors impressionist music adding, "I think with Ravel, Debussy and many others, it's rather simple to travel from "classic (impressionism)" to "jazz" (early style). This a very colorful music full of misty landscapes, tumultuous oceans, soft winds and luminous tomorrows. It has touched my heart since the first note. In some way, it's by this style that I express in my music pieces all my 'Africanity' (not sure about the spelling in English...)". He performs in France. If you are in France or will visit this month, support Francis Paraïso.
Saturday, May 10 at 8:30 PM, Francis Paraïso will perform his own works at Juigné sur Loire Rabelais Festival. Program--Turina: piano quartet op 67; Fauré: piano quartet op 15; Bach: suites for violin solo and cello solo; and Paraïso: piano solo pieces.
Friday, May 30 at 8:30 PM in Angers at “Grand Théâtre”. Program—Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue for piano and wind orchestra among others.
French Beninese Pianist
Black Pianist
May Performances in France
Black French Classical Pianist
National Music School Teacher
No comments:
Post a Comment