Bertrand Chamayou

Bertrand Chamayou is globally recognized as one of the most strikingly brilliant, imaginative, and versatile pianists of his generation. Renowned for revelatory performances that balance powerful virtuosity with breathtaking tonal beauty, Chamayou has established himself as a core pillar of the Warner Classics/Erato roster.

Chamayou’s critically acclaimed discography has earned the industry's highest honors. He is the only artist to have won France’s prestigious Victoires de la Musique on five separate occasions. His landmark recording of Maurice Ravel’s complete works for solo piano was awarded the 2016 ECHO Klassik, while his definitive recording of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 5 was named the Gramophone Recording of the Year in 2019.

A leading interpreter of French music, Chamayou’s vast repertoire includes monumental bodies of work, such as the complete piano music of Ravel and Messiaen’s Vingt regards sur l’enfant-Jésus. Simultaneously, he possesses a deep passion for contemporary music, having worked closely with iconic composers including Pierre Boulez, Henri Dutilleux, György Kurtág, Thomas Adès, Bryce Dessner, and Michaël Jarrell, who dedicated his latest piano concerto to him.

On the international stage, Chamayou performs regularly with the world’s most prestigious ensembles, including the Wiener Philharmoniker, New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and the Orchestre de Paris. He collaborates with leading conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Andris Nelsons, Philippe Jordan and François-Xavier Roth.
A highly sought-after chamber musician, Chamayou maintains celebrated artistic partnerships with Sol Gabetta, Barbara Hannigan, Antoine Tamestit, and Leif Ove Andsnes.

Born in Toulouse, Chamayou’s musical talent was quickly recognized by Jean-François Heisser, who later became his professor at the Paris Conservatoire. He completed his training in London with the legendary Maria Curcio. Deeply committed to fostering musical heritage and innovation, Chamayou also serves as the Artistic Director of the Ravel Festival, a major international festival celebrating Maurice Ravel in the French Basque Country.