André Laplante, piano

"Laplante’s is a formidable virtuosity guided by a rare musical intelligence"
Toronto Globe and Mail
 

Canadian pianist André Laplante, hailed as one of the great romantic virtuosos, has performed extensively throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia, and has released a series of ever more impressive CDs. He garnered international attention after winning prizes at the Geneva and Sydney International Piano Competitions, and capturing the silver medal at the International Tchaïkovsky Competition in Moscow. Critics have compared him with Ashkenazy, Horowitz and Rudolph Serkin, placing him in the elite circle of virtuoso pianists who do not hesitate to take risks.

"a profoundly introspective experience. Here was a master pianist at the top of his form." (Toronto Star)

"André Laplante by now can be referred to as Canada’s ‘national treasure’." (TheWholenote.com)

Recently honored as an Officer of the Order of Canada, Laplante’s recent and upcoming performances include concertos with the Rochester Philharmonic and the Symphonies of New Jersey, Montréal and Chicago, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and the Symphonies of Newfoundland, Quebec, Trois Riviere and Sherbrooke. Among his upcoming recitals, Pro Musica will present André Laplante in recital at Montréal’s Place des Artes.

Mr. Laplante's distinguished discography includes his latest, Listz's Années de pèlerinage - Suisse (Years of Pilgrimage - Switzerland). Hailed for his virtuosity and musicianship, Laplante won the Félix Award: Album of the Year for this 2010 release.

In recent seasons, Laplante has appeared as soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, and on tour in Europe with the Toronto Symphony under Andrew Davis. His history includes an extensive North American tour with the Royal Philharmonic under the baton of the late Sir Yehudi Menuhin.

The acclaimed pianist has also made a major concert tour of the People's Republic of China, recital tours of the Far East, Australia and North America, and appearances at major music festivals, including the Debussy Festival (France), Pecs Festival (Hungary), Orford Festival (Canada), Cascais Festival (Portugal), Salzburg Festival (Austria), Festival International de Lanaudière (Canada), International Summer Festival (Canada), Domaine Forget (Canada), and the TCU-Van Cliburn Institute (USA). Mr. Laplante performed with the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Malaysia as well as a critically acclaimed appearance with orchestra and quartet in an all French Festival with the Buffalo Philharmonic. He also appeared with the Columbus Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra of Ottawa and Club Musical de Québec, as well as performances with the Toronto, Québec, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Lexington, Pasadena and México City symphonies.

André Laplante's releases on the Analekta label include, in addition to Liszt, works by Ravel and Rachmaninoff, as well as an award winning Brahms album. He has also recorded for CBC and Melodia. His recording of Tchaikovsky No. 1 with Joav Talmi and l'Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, was nominated for the 2001 Felix Award, and his recording of Jacques Hetu's Piano Concerto No. 2 for CBC Records won the 2004 Juno award for orchestral recordings.  Laplante has also been honored with two Opus Awards for 1999 live performances: "Best Concert in Montréal" and "Best Concert in Québec Province."

André Laplante has served as a juror of the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, the International Music Festival in Australia, the CBC National Competition (Canada's most prestigious), the Honens International Piano Competition, the William Kapell International Piano Competition and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs.