While known internationally as a Canadian pianist, Alain Lefèvre was born in France and studied piano and composition at the Paris Conservatoire, or Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. It was a deeply formative time for him and, as he has said, “French literature and art are driven by clarity of thought and a form of elegance … Aesthetic considerations are central to French music.”

In 2019 Lefèvre released My Paris Years, a recital album recalling his time as a student and comprising favourite works by Debussy, Ravel, Satie and Franck. His new album, Paris Memories, follows in the same vein with a programme of Franck (Prélude, Fugue et Variation), Debussy (Rêverie, Arabesque No. 2, Ballade, Pour le piano and Danse (Tarentelle styrienne), and works by the man who taught Alain Lefèvre composition: Pierre Max Dubois.

Dubois (1930-1995) was a pupil of the prolific and multi-faceted Darius Milhaud. Like Francis Poulenc, Milhaud was a member of the group of composers known as Les Six, which exemplified the eclectic and energetic spirit of 1920s Paris. Dubois’ music is often characterised by a lively, spiky wit. “I love humour and I don’t aspire to making the world turn in a different direction,” he said, “For me, music is an entertaining and natural affair.”

On the programme are three of Dubois’ ten Études de concert pour le piano: Aria, Scherzando and an African-inspired piece Oubanghi, named after a tributary of the Congo River.  The album is completed with a four-movement piano sonata by Dubois, composed in 1984 and dedicated to Alain Lefèvre.

Lefèvre’s piano teacher at the Paris Conservatoire was Pierre Sancan, a distinguished figure whom Lefèvre praises as “above all attentive to revealing the personality of each of his students”. He goes on to say: “While a student at the Paris Conservatoire I had memorable encounters with great figures in the world of music.” These included composer Henri Dutilleux, soprano Mady Mesplé and violinists Christian Ferras and Ivry Gitlis. “Of particular significance was the opportunity to get to know my teacher Pierre Max Dubois, and I’m profoundly moved to have finally been able to record his piano sonata.”

French-born Canadian pianist and composer Alain Lefèvre OC CQ has signed a new long-term deal with Warner Classics, opening an exciting new chapter in the life of this acclaimed and prolific artist. 

For his Warner Classics debut, Années parisiennes, due for release in spring 2019, Lefèvre turns for inspiration to his years in Paris, where he studied both piano and composition at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris.  These years would have a huge impact on him, both as a musician and as a person.  He encountered several great artists during his Années parisiennes who would prove to influence him greatly – his piano teacher in Paris, Pierre Sancan, who described Alain as amongst his “most brilliant disciples”, his teachers Pierre Max Dubois in composition and Geneviève Joy in chamber music, and the great violinist Christian Ferras, who, moved by a performance he heard on Radio France, asked the young pianist to collaborate. Following hugely successful recitals with Ferras at Salle Gaveau in Paris and on tour, Ferras died suddenly, interrupting their concerts in Spain. A touching tribute concert dedicated to Ferras took place at the Châtelet in Paris, in which Lefèvre was joined on stage by Isaac Stern and Ivry Gitlis.  Upon graduating from the Paris Conservatoire, where he was awarded first prizes in both piano and chamber music, he went on to win the Grand Prix at the Alfred Cortot International Piano Competition and gave his debut at Salle Pleyel, Paris to huge critical acclaim.   

Of the new partnership, Lefèvre says, “To have been approached and signed by the legendary label Warner Classics, which features the greatest artists of all time, comes as an achievement in one’s life and I can only feel humbled by this eloquent endorsement.”

Executive Vice President of A&R Jean-Philippe Rolland says, “Alain Lefèvre is one of Canada’s greatest artists and communicators, and we are incredibly excited and proud to welcome him into the Warner Classics family.”