Bach Bartók Julien Libeer

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816:
• 1 French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816: I. Allemande 03:10
• 2 French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816: II. Courante 01:39
• 3 French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816: III. Sarabande 04:39
• 4 French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816: IV. Gavotte 01:07
• 5 French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816: V. Bourrée 01:24
• 6 French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816: VI. Loure 02:18
• 7 French Suite No. 5 In G Major, BWV 816: VII. Gigue 03:17
• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945): Out of Doors, Sz. 81:
• 8 Out of Doors, Sz. 81: I. With Drums and Pipes. Pesante 01:52
• 9 Out of Doors, Sz. 81: II. Barcarolla. Andante 02:44
• 10 Out of Doors, Sz. 81: III. Musettes. Moderato 03:10
• 11 Out of Doors, Sz. 81: IV. The Night's music. Lento 05:21
• 12 Out of Doors, Sz. 81: V. The Chase. Presto 02:20
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita in C Minor, BWV 826:
• 13 Partita in C Minor, BWV 826: I. Sinfonia 04:39
• 14 Partita in C Minor, BWV 826: II. Allemande 04:31
• 15 Partita in C Minor, BWV 826: III. Courante 02:36
• 16 Partita in C Minor, BWV 826: IV. Sarabande 03:38
• 17 Partita in C Minor, BWV 826: V. Rondeaux 01:36
• 18 Partita in C Minor, BWV 826: VI. Capriccio 03:18
• Bela Bartok: Suite for Piano, Op. 14:
• 19 Suite for Piano, Op. 14: I. Allegretto 02:06
• 20 Suite for Piano, Op. 14: II. Scherzo 01:56
• 21 Suite for Piano, Op. 14: III. Allegro molto 02:12
• 22 Suite for Piano, Op. 14: IV. Sostenuto 02:50
• Total Runtime 01:02:23

Info for Bach Bartók

Beyond their lifelong interest in keyboard instruments of all types (organ, harpsichord and clavichord in the case of Bach; modern piano as a percussion instrument in the case of Bartók), other shared concerns connect these two giants of classical music who at first glance appear to be polar opposites.

The juxtaposition of the two composers is not the least appeal of this album which also marks Julien Libeer’s first project for harmonia mundi: this ardent advocate of a clear and direct approach deftly combines keen intuition with a sense of formal rigour to bring four masterful examples of the ‘suite’ genre into a dialogue spanning across the centuries that set them apart.

Julien Libeer, piano

Julien Libeer
Around age four, Julien Libeer (Belgium, 1987) discovered Leonard Bernstein conducting West Side Story. Is it possible to see Bernstein at work and not believe that making music is the greatest thing on earth?

His next big influence was the pianist Dinu Lipatti; also someone radiating musical truth. Lipatti proved formative for the direction in which Julien wanted to work, as he consciously avoided engaging in piano competitions.

For five unforgettable years, French-Polish pedagogue Jean Fassina was the mentor for Julien’s pianistic and musical foundation. An additional five years, Maria João Pires taught Julien by example, and by taking him on the road to perform with her. Ultimately, he learned that your most important asset, on stage and in life, is your freedom.

Julien Libeer was presented with the Juventus Award 2008 for being the most promising young European soloist, and was named Young Musician of the Year by the Belgian Music Press Association in 2010. His work has been subject of the documentaries Technique doesn’t exist (2013) and Jeunes Solistes, Grands Destins (2018).

Julien’s recordings have been well-received by the international press, receiving awards such as the Diapason d’Or de l’Année 2016, Klara Award 2016 and Echo Preis 2017.

As a soloist, Julien has had the pleasure of collaborating with orchestras such as Brussels Philharmonic, Belgian National Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Sinfonia Varsovia and New Japan Philharmonic; with conductors such as Trevor Pinnock, Michel Tabachnik, Augustin Dumay, Hervé Niquet, Serge Pehlevanian, Joshua Weilerstein, Enrique Mazzola and Christopher Warren-Green.

Distinguished chamber music partners in recent times are Augustin Dumay, Camille Thomas, Frank Braley and Maria João Pires. Julien Libeer is currently performing and recording Beethoven’s complete sonatas for violin and piano with Lorenzo Gatto. Julien Libeer is Artist in Residence at Flagey Brussels and enjoys regular invites from Palais des Beaux-Arts (Brussels), Théâtre de la Ville and Salle Cortot (Paris), Barbican Hall (London), Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Concertgebouw Bruges and Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

His travels have taken him to Spain (Auditorio Nacional Madrid, Palau de la Musica Barcelona), Japan (Sumida Tryphony Hall Tokyo), Lebanon (Beirut Chants festival) and the USA (Miami International Piano Festival).

Libeer’s teachers and mentors have included Daniel Blumenthal (Royal Conservatory of Brussels), Jean Fassina (Paris), Maria João Pires, Jura Margulis, Nelson Delle-Vigne, members of the Artemis Quartet, Dmitry Bashkirov, Alfred Brendel, Abdel Rahman El Bacha and Gerhard Schulz (Alban Berg Quartet).

Julien is driven to initiate or collaborate in projects which are rooted in the idea that music, far beyond its esthetic value, can be a force of change for anyone willing to listen.

Amongst these projects was Julien hosting a Belgian TV series, that made a case for musical storytelling. Enthusiasm about music is contagious and informative. With this in mind, the Bruges Concertgebouw and Julien started a series called Salon Libeer, in which he joins a fellow musician and a speaker (e.g. philosopher, historian, author). By exploring a particular theme, the discussion strives to enhance the audience’s musical experience. Since 2019, he initiated the ‘Glass Bead Game Talks’ on his own YouTube channel, a series of discussions exploring the recent transformations of the classical music world and what to think of them.

With the project Singing Molenbeek, high level choir rehearsals are organised in the primary schools of a Brussels suburb famous for all kinds of wrong reasons. As artistic director and pianist, it is Julien’s hope that introducing these children to music, with all its demands and rewards, will help them personally and socially.

Booklet for Bach Bartók