"If I were a piece of music, it would be gentle and deliberate at the same time, perhaps Schubert": the Proust questionnaire of Alexandre Tharaud, pianist

Writers, musicians, actors, fashion designers, dancers, filmmakers… Throughout the summer, artists are taking part in this game for franceinfo Culture. Today, we feature star pianist Alexandre Tharaud.

With a thirty-year career and more than 25 solo albums, Alexandre Tharaud has a special place in the world of classical music in France. For the breadth of his repertoire, from Scarlatti and Bach (famous for his Goldberg Variations ) to Ravel, including Schubert and Chopin. For his eclecticism and his friendships in pop and jazz, and especially his collaborations with all artistic forms, theater, dance, and cinema: Alexandre Tharaud plays his role as a pianist in Michael Haneke's Amour . And literature is never far away; he himself has published a biographical account, Show Me Your Hands.

The pianist's latest album, released before the summer, Concertos (Erato), features three contemporary concertos written for him by Argentinian Alex Nante, Frenchman Thierry Pécou, and Franco-Spanish Basque Ramon Lazkano.

Franceinfo Culture: This summer, are you more focused on work or nap, touring or vacation? Alexandre Tharaud: Tour 80%, vacation 20%.

On vacation, are you mountain or beach? North or south? Anywhere between 23 and 27 degrees.

Let's talk about creativity: are you a morning person or an evening person? Definitely an evening person.

Studio or live? Both 1000%.

What's the album you still haven't listened to? Vikingur Olafsson's Mozart album.

Your best memory as a musician? As a child, singing and dancing in Louis Ganne's operetta Hans, the Flute Player .

Your nightmare? Walking naked on stage in front of two thousand spectators.

If you were a piece of music, what would it be? Gentle and purposeful at the same time. Perhaps Schubert.

What musical or literary phrase has changed your life? The entry of the flute in the slow movement of Ravel's Concerto in G major for piano and orchestra.

Which characters in literature, art, or music have you hated? Only one: Caledon in the movie Titanic.

And those who have always been with you? Only one, Barbara.

Where is your home? The stage.

What place inspires you? Montreal.

What is the question that horrifies you? "Alexander, why are you so thin?" ?"

And the one you've never been asked? "Alexander, why are you so fat?" ?"

Alexandre Tharaud on tour this summer: July 25 at Domaine Forget Charlevoix Regional County Municipality (Canada), August 14 and 25 at the Saline royale d'Arc-et-Senans, August 16 at the Konzerthaus in Berlin (Germany), August 17 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (Netherlands), August 27 at the Berlioz Festival in La Côte-Saint-André and August 29, 2025 at the Santander Festival (Spain).