MICHEL PIQUEMAL

"The admirable Michel Piquemal draws maximum response from the many and varied musical configurations involved. The sound is sumptuous when it should be, spare when spareness is more appropriate." Fanfare review of Michel Piquemal's recording of choral works by Ropartz.

Michel Piquemal leads a multifaceted life as singer, choral trainer and conductor. He is mainly known for French choral music, for his teaching of choral conducting at the Paris Conservatoire and for his special interest in composers of the twentieth century.

The conductor founded his own choral group, the Ensemble Vocal Michel Piquemal, in 1978 and the group became professional four years later with the support of the French Ministry of Culture. The ensemble varies in size - from 12 to 32 singers - according to the demands of its very wide repertoire, from Renaissance music through to contemporary works. The group tours regularly and widely: for example since its inception it has visited not only the UK and Germany, Canada and Singapore but also Indonesia and East Africa.

In recent years Michel Piquemal has become more and more entrusted with larger recording and performance projects, engaging both the Choeur Regional Vittoria de l'Ille de France and key regional performers such the Orchestre National de Lille-Region Nord. With these forces he not only gives public concerts but records a growing number of French choral works for Naxos and Marco Polo.

Piquemal has attracted vivid appreciation from the classic music press for his interpretations of Poulenc on Naxos. These include a stunning rendition of his Stabat Mater and Gloria together with a freshly released set of the composer's fascinating Melodies: "At his very best moments...Piquemal is everything I could hope for " (American Record Guide).

The two volumes of Durufle now committed to disc have been seen as a must for admirers of the modest and devout composer whilst Piquemal's recording of the French Swiss Arthur Honegger's symphonic oratorio Le Roi David was directed "with style and passion" according to the BBC Music Magazine and gained the conductor a special award from Le Monde de la Musique.

Meanwhile, on Marco Polo Michel Piquemal has recorded, with his own vocal ensemble, rare masses and motets by Joseph-Guy Ropartz together with a further CD of the composer's choral works, with the Choeur Regional Vittoria de l'Ille de France. With the Choeur Regional Nord, Piquemal has captured on disc Henri Tomasi's Requiem Pour La Paix, "dedicated to the martyrs of the Resistance and all those who died for France."

November, 2001

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Role: Conductor
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