The death of pianist Nicholas Angelich on April 18 does not end, by its suddenness and the age of the virtuoso (51 years old), to sadden the musical world. A beautiful tribute will be paid to him this Thursday, June 9 at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées by several of his friends, around the cellist Gautier Capuçon and the great Russian violinist Vadim Repin.
We will find there, around Brahms, Schubert or Rachmaninov, the pianist Frank Braley or the Quatuor Modigliani but also musicians of the young generation like the cellist Victor Julien-Laferrière, the violinist Raphaëlle Moreau or the pianist Guillaume Bellom.
Of American parents of Croatian origin, Angelich had studied in Paris with a great master, Aldo Ciccolini, and recognized that between Europe and the United States he had “this chance to be confronted with different cultures” not to mention its own roots. His playing was characterized by a magnificent mixture of poetry and sonic intoxication which he had put to use for Brahms, Chopin, Beethoven, Liszt (one of his favorite musicians), with, what was less known, a real appetite for more contemporary music, French as if by chance, from Olivier Messiaen to Pierre Boulez.
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He was also recognized as an exceptional partner, from the Capuçon brothers to so many others, capable both of being at the service of the soloist, whether he was a violinist or cellist, but also of an accompanying score which is often , when it is written by the greatest, of a dimension that requires an interpreter of his caliber. A Martha Argerich, who also loves chamber music so much, was not mistaken, who had immense respect and admiration for him.
All profits from the evening will be donated to the association “France Greffe Cœur Poumon”, Nicholas Angelich having died of a difficult to cure lung disease which had forced him to interrupt all concerts for a year. As Gautier Capuçon told us: he was a wonderful friend. But above all he was a wonderful musician friend.
Concert-tribute to Nicholas Angelich by his friends, Gautier Capuçon, Vadim Repin, Frank Braley, etc. Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris, June 9 at 8 p.m.