EarlyMusicNews.Org

“The Lesaulnier sisters formed the harpsichord duo "Le Petit Concert Baroque" in 2002.

Chani & Nadja Lesaulnier were born in 1984 and 1986 in Aix-en-Provence. They started their musical formation with Pierre Hantaï and Élisabet Joyé in Paris before moving on to Barcelona to take part in Béatrice Martin’s foreign degree at the Escuola Superior de Musica de Catalunya in Barcelona. In the ESMUC, they also acquire a crucial understanding of chamber music with Manfredo Kraemer.

Nadja & Chani Lesaulnier then studied at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Jesper B. Christensen, Andrea Marcon and Jörg-Andreas Bötticher. They also took part in courses by Andreas Scholl, Paolo Pandolfo, Gerd Türk and Chiara Banchini. Nadja & Chani both complete their harpsichord soloist Diplomas with Honours in 2007. Nadja also completes a Master in Basso Continuo in 2010.

In addition to her career as a harpsichordist, Nadja studies the baroque violin and the baroque doublebass and performs regularly under the direction of D. Sinclair, S. Scholtz and Ch. Biller.

As a solo harpsichordist, Nadja Lesaulnier wins 1st price at the Schmelzer International Competition in Melk (president of the jury: G. Leonhardt), 2nd prize at the International Harpsichord Competition Paola Bernardi in Bologna (L.F. Tagliavini) and 3d prize at the International Bach Competition in Leipzig in 2010 (R. Hill).

Le Petit Concert Baroque has won the 2nd prize at the Premio Bonporti 2008 in Rovereto (G. Leonhardt) and was prizewinner at the Schmelzer International Competition 2005 in Melk (R. Clemencic).

Le Petit Concert Baroque appears in concert throughout Europe : Vienna Alte-Musik Festival "Italia Mia", Europäisches Musikfest Stuttgart with the Venice Baroque Orchestra, Bach-Festspiele Schaffhausen and Festival "Barock in Zürich" with La Cetra (dir. A.Marcon), Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, etc ...

The first CD of the Lesaulnier sisters, "Al Piacere del Signore G. F. Haendel", is dedicated to transcriptions for two harpsichords made by Nadja & Chani of orchestral and vocal music of G.F. Haendel. Released in spring 2009, under the Austrian Radio label, ORF Alte Musik the CD was awarded a Diapason d’Or Découverte of the musical magazine Diapason in May 2009.

In 2010, Le Petit Concert Baroque was awarded the Basel Kiwanis Association Culture Prize. Chani & Nadja recorded a second disc, this time, with Bach-Transcriptions. It will come out soon.“ 

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Category: Ensembles/Performers/Associations/Societies / Keyboards

Added on: Jul 21, 2011 | Hits: 235