1919 Marion Leleu & Bertrand Giraud

• Joseph Ryelandt (1870 - 1965): Viola Sonata in D Minor, Op. 73:
• 1Ryelandt: Viola Sonata in D Minor, Op. 73: I. Allegro molto05:36
• 2Ryelandt: Viola Sonata in D Minor, Op. 73: II. Adagio04:15
• 3Ryelandt: Viola Sonata in D Minor, Op. 73: III. Allegro giocoso05:36
• Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963): Viola Sonata in F Major, Op. 11 No. 4:
• 4Hindemith: Viola Sonata in F Major, Op. 11 No. 4: I. Ruhig03:13
• 5Hindemith: Viola Sonata in F Major, Op. 11 No. 4: II. Thema mit Variationen04:11
• 6Hindemith: Viola Sonata in F Major, Op. 11 No. 4: III. Finale (mit Variationen)10:20
• Rebecca Clarke (1886 - 1979): Sonata for Viola & Piano:
• 7Clarke: Sonata for Viola & Piano: I. Impetuoso08:29
• 8Clarke: Sonata for Viola & Piano: II. Vivace04:05
• 9Clarke: Sonata for Viola & Piano: III. Adagio11:51
• Total Runtime57:36

Info for 1919

The year 1919: A point in time, European countries, a young woman, a young man and an elderly gentleman. This is the musical triptych chosen for our album by Marion Leleu and pianist Bertrand Giraud, who plays Stephen Paulello's wonderful Opus 102 grand piano.

These three composers could not be more different, both in terms of their social situation, their geographical origin and their psychological condition. Nevertheless, the three are linked by their inspiration and their musical ingenuity, which has fascinated me from the very beginning of this project.Like the waves of the sea of ​​my homeland, Brittany, their melodic phrases come and go, develop, unfold tremendous power, finally explode or calm down in a forgiving way. She was immediately captivated by Joseph Ryelandt's Op. 73 Sonata and is delighted to be the first to record this work and to publish the score in a new edition together with Bertrand Giraud. This music deserves to be better known and it hopes that it will soon be part of the romantic viola repertoire. Paul Hindemith's Op.11/4 Sonata is like a river or a journey and although the playing time is not very long it can feel like a marathon and it remains a constant challenge for the performers. The final work, Rebecca Clarke's Sonata, is a necessary and moving call to offer her female followers greater visibility and freedom in the music world.

Marion Leleu: "Playing this work is like going back to the source of your own feelings as a musician."

Marion Leleu, viola
Bertrand Giraud, piano

Marion Leleu
The French violist Marion Leleu studied viola and choral conducting at the CNSM in Lyon, graduating with honors. First she worked for many years as an orchestral musician, among others at the Hamburg State Opera and the Kammerakademie Potsdam, but also in many other ensembles in which she was a guest. These include the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Orchestre de Radio-France, the Ensemble Modern, the Bavarian State Opera, the Dresden State Opera and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin.

She has been passing on the stage experience she gained there at the UdK Berlin since 2008. She is passionate about pedagogy and psychological support for other musicians to help them perform at their best. Her coaching method is based on the technique of tapping acupressure and positive visualization. She has given several advanced trainings and workshops for instrumentalists in this field at the Rostock State Academy and in Brandenburg.

As a musician still passionately on the road, she has shifted her concert activities to demanding chamber music, for example with the sonata duo "ALTOPIANO" and the historical string quartet "Quatuor Voltaire", which she co-founded.

Bertrand Giraud
Born in 1971, Bertrand Giraud obtained his Piano Diploma and his Chamber Music Diploma in 1995 with "Mention Très Bien" at the Conservatory of Geneva in Dominique MERLET 's Class. He also obtained a Vocal Accompaniment Diploma from the Paris Conservatory. Since 1995, his main teachers have been maestro Bruno CANINO, Colette ZERAH, and Aquiles DELLE VIGNE, all of which were paramount in his artistic evolution. Under their supervision, Mr. Giraud studied chamber music, accompaniment, composition, musical analysis, and improvisation. Mr. Giraud has won numerous national and international musical contests, such as the Flame Competition and the Chopin Piano Competition (Texas, USA), in which he was awarded the second prize. Mr Giraud has performed not only in Europe (France, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, England, Germania, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugual, Rumania, Russia, Spain, Serbie Switerland, Turkey, Ucrainia), but also Morrocco in the two Americas, China, Japan, Singapur, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailandia. An experienced soloist, he has worked with numerous conductors and orchestra (lodz philharmonic, North Czech Philharmonic Teplice, Lublin philharmonic Orchestre symphonique du Sodre, Orchestre provincial de Rosario, ... ) and played in several duets with other well-known musicians and chamber groups, such as Pierre AMOYAL, Bruno Canino, Bruno Pasquier, Henri Demarquette, Ami Flamer, Philippe Pierlot, Benoit Fromanger and L'Octuor de France, among others.

Also, he played with some orchestra’s of Paris or Cleveland soloists in the season of the orchestra. Many players of the frenchs orchestras ask his collaboration for concerts in the official season. In 2000, he did his debut at New York, city where he is now invited on a regular basis. The acknowledgement of his craftsmanship lead him to work with France-Musiques, as well as the American TV, Italian TV and Thai TV. In this last instance, he had the pleasure to perform for the Queen of Thailand. He is jugde for many nationals and internationals competition (Audition of Sydney, Porto, Premio Zanfi of Parma/Liszt, Marsala, Safonov, AMA CALABRIA, Bitola...) In addition to possessing a wide solo and chamber repertory including the main works of the tonal repertoire, Mr. Giraud has championed new music written by composers like Francaix, Pessina, and Kutnowski. He has also commisioned and premiered a new work written for him by composer Jean Louis PETIT.

Since 1998, he is the artistic Director of the Jean FRANCAIX 's competition. Mr. Giraud has recorded 17 cds for Erol, Maguelone and Anima-Records. All of these releases were received with acclaim in the especialized press. He gives many masterclass in Serbie, Germania, Kazakhstan ( Academy of music of Astana), Lebanon, (conservatoire supérieur du Liban), DMBUC Ilija Nikolovski Luj Skopje, Université of music (Pristina/Kosovo), USA, Yonsei University of Seoul (South Korea), Gnessin School of Moscow.

Booklet for 1919