P R O G R A M
Grande pièce symphonique | César Franck (1822–1890)
Symphonie “Romane” No. 10, Op. 73 | Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)
Moderato
Choral
Cantilène
Final
Variations sur un Noël basque | Jean Bouvard (1905 - 1996)
Over the past thirty years, Michel Bouvard has enjoyed a remarkable double career as concert artist and professor of organ. Recognized internationally as one of the most engaging French interpreters, he is regularly invited to perform upon the most beautiful historic organs throughout Europe, as well as in the great concert halls of Asia and prominent venues of North America. He has given more than 1,000 concerts in more than 25 countries. Within the past several years, he has performed in some of the greatest cultural centers of the world, including New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Montréal, Milan, Rio de Janeiro, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Brussels, St. Petersburg, Seoul, London, Leipzig, New Orleans, and San Francisco. In 2016, he will present the opening recital of the national convention of the American Guild of Organists in Houston, Texas.
Michel Bouvard’s discography has garnered international acclaim. One of his first recordings dedicated to the organ music of François Couperin (Sony 1992) has recently been re-released and named one of “Les Indispensables” (indispensable recordings) by the magazine Diapason.
Michel Bouvard is indebted to his grandfather, organist and composer Jean Bouvard, student of Louis Vierne, for inspiring in him in his vocation. Michel received his early training at the Paris Conservatory (musical theory and musicianship classes), while studying organ and improvisation with André Isoir. He also studied with the renowned organists of St. Severin in Paris: Jean Boyer, Francis Chapelet, and Michel Chapuis. In 1983, he won first prize in the international organ competition of Toulouse, marking the début of his career. Called by Xavier Darasse to succeed him in the direction of the organ program at the Toulouse Conservatory in 1985, he pursued Darasse’s vision of partnership and collaboration with the city and region by organizing concerts, organ tours, master classes, and the international organ competition with colleague Jan Willem Jansen. These efforts culminated in 1996 in the creation of the international organ festival Toulouse les Orgues which Mr. Bouvard directed for seven years, and the establishment of the Centre d’Études Supérieures de Musique et de Danse de Toulouse, a highly selective graduate program for organists wishing to study on the wealth of historic organs in the Toulouse region.
In 1995, Michel Bouvard was named Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory (CNSM de Paris) with his friend and colleague Olivier Latry. Together they have developed a unique, collaborative method of pedagogy, attracting the finest young international organists with varying career goals to the program. In fall 2013, he was invited to join the organ faculty of the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, as a professor in residence. He will complete teaching residencies at Yale in November 2015, and at the National University of the Arts in Tokyo in 2016.
Michel Bouvard has been the titular organist of the renowned Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Romanesque Basilica of St. Sernin in Toulouse since 1996. In 2010, he was named one of the four principal organists of the Chapel Royal at the Château in Versailles.
Biography provided by the artist