Live from la Maison Française–Blandine Rannou

NOTE: All of the music on this program was recorded at La Maison Française at the Embassy of France, in cooperation with the French-American Cultural foundation. For information on the many activities and concerts at the Maison, you may explore the site: www.houseoffrancedc.com

Blandine RANNOU, Harpsichord

After having won three First Prizes at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris (harpsichord, basso continuo and chamber music), Blandine Rannou carried on her studies at the Sweelinck Conservatorium of Amsterdam with Bob van Asperen. In 1992, she was the First Prize winner of the Concours International de clavecin of Bruges where she was also the recipient of the People's choice Award and the Belgian Radio and Television Special Award.

Blandine Rannou was the harpsichordist of the ensemble Il Seminario Musicale (directed by Gérard Lesne) with which she performed concerts and recorded on a regular basis for more than ten years. She also dedicates significant time to chamber music and recitals, which led her to be chosen for the « Soloist Instrumental Best New » category on the occasion of the Victoires de la Musique classique 2003.

Blandine Rannou appeared in many festivals and series such as la Roque d'Anthéron, Sablé, Saintes, la Folle Journée, le Printemps des Arts de Nantes, le Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, La Cité de la Musique in Paris, but also abroad : Brussels, Washington, San Diego, Montreal, Monte Carlo, Rome…

In July 2009 she will give concerts in the Festival de Lanaudière (Canada).

Three years ago, she began a collaboration with the « Zig-Zag Territoires » record company, with which she recorded Rameau's complete works for harpsichord in 2001, Bach's French Suites and English Suites. All her recordings have been highly and unanimously praised by the specialized press.

Her Couperin CD was awarded a CHOC du Monde de la Musique and a DIAPASON d'Or. Her latest recording dedicated to harpischord works from Antoine Forqueray was released on March 2008 by Zig Zag Territoires label.