Biography
A renowned figure in the world of baroque music, French soprano Sandrine Piau regularly performs with celebrated conductors such as William Christie, Philippe Herreweghe, Christophe Rousset, Gustav Lleonhardt, Ivor Bolton, Ton Koopman, René Jacobs, Marc Minkowski and Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Sandrine Piau embraces different roles on international stages. The roles she has previously performed include Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), Morgana (Alcina) at the Opéra de Paris, Dalinda (Ariodante) at the Salzburg Festival, Alcina, Mélisande, Sandrina, (La Finta Giardiniera), Sœur Constance (Dialogue des Carmélites) at la Monnaie, Alcina and Dalinda (Ariodante) in Amsterdam, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and Sœur Constance at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, and Despina (Cosi fan tutte) and Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) at the Festival d’Aix en Provence.
As a celebrated recital singer of both French and German repertoire, Sandrine Piau performs with renowned accompanists including Jos van Immerseel, Roger Vignoles and Susan Manoff.
She regularly gives recitals and has appeared in concert in New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Munich, Zurich, and Salzburg, and recently in Hamburg for the opening of the Elbphilharmonie.
Sandrine Piau has an extensive discography and she now records exclusively for Alpha Classics. She recently released three critically-acclaimed discs: Enchantresses (Les Paladins / Jérôme Correas), Rivales (Véronique Gens, Julien Chauvin and Concert de la Loge) and Voyage Intime (David Kadouch).
This season, Sandrine Piau sings Despina in the Bayerische Staatsoper’s new production of Cosi fan tutte, Morgana in the reprise of Alcina in Monte-Carlo, returns to the Royal Opera House in Innocence and gives concerts throughout Europe with different orchestras and ensembles, including the Kammerorchester Basel.
In the 2021/2022 season, Sandrine Piau takes part in Mozart’s Requiem directed by Romeo Castellucci, at both the Wiener Festwochen and La Monnaie, sings in concerts with ensembles with whom she regularly collaborates, such as Les Paladins and Les Violons du Roy in Canada. In addition, she embarks on a concert tour to present Rivales, a disc which was recorded with the Concert de la Loge and Véronique Gens.
In summer 2021, Sandrine Piau was invited by the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence to sing in Kaija Saariaho’s creation, Innocence, which was streamed globally and received unanimous international praise.
The 2019/20 season was marked by Les Arts Florissants’ 40th anniversary tour, a European Tour with Teodor Currentzis and concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sandrine Piau was given the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres in 2006 and was named “Opera Artist of the Year” at the Victoires de la Musique Classique award ceremony in 2009.
Recent News
Reviews
“Piau lives intensely each fluctuating shade of feeling, colouring the text expressively and using the ‘sighing’ appoggiaturas so characteristic of French Baroque music to heighten the emotion.”
“…enfin le chef-d’oeuvre nommé Sandrine Piau. Qui depuis Arleen Augér a su incarner, dans une langue aussi accomplie, la noblesse inquiète et retorse de la protagoniste, son port, ses couleurs ambiuës? Couronné par un “Ah mio cor” prodigieux (le da capo!), ce modèle d’interprétation justifie à lui seul une parution [de ce DVD].”
[‘… and we get to the star performance, delivered by Sandrine Piau. Who since Arleen Augér has been able to embody, in the same accomplished manner, the troubled, cunning grandeur of the protagonist, her comportment and use of complex undertones? A performance crowned by the tremendous da capo “Ah, mio cor”, this perfect interpretation singularly justifies the release [of this DVD]’
More Reviews
“Piau lives intensely each fluctuating shade of feeling, colouring the text expressively and using the ‘sighing’ appoggiaturas so characteristic of French Baroque music to heighten the emotion.”
“La participation de Sandrine Piau en Zélidie est celle qui faudra retenir: comme à son habitude, elle triomphe avec sagesse des hardiesses vocales; la ligne du chant est admirablement conduite, la prononciation est exemplaire, la tension dramatique est savamment mesurée et l’ensemble se fait sans triomphalisme ni emphase inutile. Elle excelle dans ce répertoire et justifie à elle seule l’écoute de ces pages.”
“The production […] merits a return visit for the beguiling performance by Sandrine Piau, one of our most compelling sopranos active in Baroque repertoire. Although she is justly admired for her recording with René Jacobs, her seductive acting adds a whole new dimension to her portrayal. Her voice has a creaminess that allows for brilliance without harshness, as in the enchanting aria “V’adoro, pupille.” High notes have a lovely ping, and her careful management of vibrato allows for handsome coloristic effects.”
“Pour notre plus grande joie, c’est la délicieuse Sandrine Piau qui lui donne la réplique en Mélisande. La soprano française gratifie l’auditoire de son timbre lumineux et de sa musicalité sans faille; elle nimbe son personnage de mystère, en lui donnant des grâces d’oiseau pris au piège, et distille une constante émotion, achevant le portrait d’une Mélisande qui ne quittera pas de sitôt notre mémoire.
[To our greatest joy, it is the delightful Sandrine Piau who sings Mélisande. The French soprano gifts her radiant timbre and faultless musicality to the audience. She envelops her character in mystery, creating the image of a bird that has been trapped and gives off constant emotion, completing the portrait of a Mélisande that we will not forget.]“
“…her singing has a wonderful, uncomplicated directness, utterly free of mannerisms or affectation.”
Andrew Clements, The Guardian
“Sandrine Piau is one of today’s most celebrated singers in the world of early music, although her repertoire is not confined to the 17th and 18th centuries.”
“Bonheur total […] avec la sublime Pamina de Sandrine Piau, devant laquelle on ne peut que rendre les armes. On admire chez cette magnifique chanteuse la pureté du timbre, l’égalité de la ligne de chant, la musicalité sans faille et la touchante fragilité. Elle délivre un « Ach, ich fühl’s » d’une luminosité à pleurer !
[Sandrine Piau’s gorgeous Pamina, whom we cannot resist, gives us absolute joy. We admire this beautiful singer’s pure timbre, even singing, faultless musicality and touching fragility. Her “Ach, ich fühl’s” is bright and incredibly moving!]“
“La distribution est dominée par la Pamina de Sandrine Piau dont la simplicité naturelle, la grâce, le chant incarné et lumineux emportent l’adhésion.
[Sandrine Piau’s Pamina dominates the cast. Her natural simplicity, elegance and brilliant, lively singing were unanimously praised.]“
“Sandrine Piau was outstanding as the poor, put-upon Sandrina.”
John McCann, Opera
“On mettra au premier plan la belle prise de rôle de Sandrine Piau, dans un personnage qui lui convient admirablement, capable d’allier la ligne raffinée de son émouvante cavatine « Geme la tortorella » aux explosions de sa tragique scène du II (« Crudeli, Oh dio !…Ah, dal pianto »).
[One of the most important performances of the evening is Sandrine Piau’s great debut in a perfectly fitting role. She easily combines her moving and refined cavatina “Germe la tortorella” with her explosive and tragic scene in Act II (“Crudeli, Oh dio! … Ah, dal pianto”).]“Francois Lehel, Opéra Magazine
“Superbe distribution une fois encore, bâtie autour de la très belle Sandrina de la prédestinée Sandrine Piau, capable de colorer son timbre de la fragilité du personnage sans pour autant perdre la sûreté parfaite de son chant.
[There is once again a superb cast, built around the beautiful Sandrina, perfomed by the predestined Sandrine Piau. She is capable of reflecting her character’s fragility in her timbre without losing the perfect assurance of her singing.]“
“Ms. Piau sang with a clear and deeply expressive voice, nuanced phrasing and immaculate control. “
Contact
Claire Feazey - General Manager
[email protected]
+33 6 7537 6508
Claire Louis - Assistant Artist Manager
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+33 6 69 96 10 31
