HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD

At the age of 12, Hélène Grimaud entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, where she studied under Jacques Rouvier, Gyorgy Sandor and Leon Fleisher.

1987 marked a decisive turning point in her career when she won the Cannes Classical Award at MIDEM. Her performance there prompted Daniel Barenboim to recommend her to the Orchestre de Paris and there followed a string of high-profile engagements including her first performance at La Roque d'Anthéron Piano Festival and her debut recital in Tokyo.

Since then, she has performed regularly in leading music centers with major orchestras worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Tonhalle Zürich, St. Petersburg Philharmonic and NHK Symphony Orchestras. In the U.S. she continues to appear with top-ranking orchestras, including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, and the Philadelphia, San Francisco and Boston Symphony Orchestras.

Hélène Grimaud also performs at the world's most important festivals both in recital and chamber music programs.

Her latest recording for Deutsche Grammophon, Reflection, featuring works by Brahms and both Robert and Clara Schumann, was released to high acclaim in spring 2006. Previous recordings on DGG include Credo (orchestral and solo works by Beethoven and Pärt), a Chopin/Rachmaninov recital disc and Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 3, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and Pierre Boulez.

In 2002, Grimaud was appointed Officier dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministère de la Culture and in 2004, she was awarded the "Victoire d'honneur" at the French "Victoires de la Musique."

Hélène Grimaud is the author of two books, Variations Sauvages and Leçons Particulières, both published by Editions Robert Laffont. Variations Sauvages has already been translated into several languages and will appear in English for the first time later this year. Both books have been runaway successes in France, where they have appeared at the top of the bestseller list.

In 1999, Hélène Grimaud founded the Wolf Conservation Center, a cause which she continues to champion. More recently, she has given her name and support to a number of other charities, including Amnesty International, International Children's Camp Villa Sans Souci and the Worldwide Fund.