Composer
Françoise Choveaux
Biography
Training and musical tradition
"Her musical universe is strong and colored " Marc Vignal, musicologist and critic in Le monde de la Musique.
Photo by Bernard Dauphiné
Francoise Choveaux was trained in the Lille Conservatory of Music CRD, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Musique de Paris, the Institute Peabody of Baltimore and in Juilliard School of New York. She performed in prestigious festivals in France, in Europe, in Asia, in the United States and in Brazil.
Françoise Choveaux takes up with a musical tradition anchored in the 19th Century. She is a composer but also a pianist. As of today, she has already written more than 270 opus for all instruments and all formations, from solos to symphony orchestras. And her works are performed in Europe (France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Belgium, Baltic States), in Asia and in America.
Numerous live recordings and in studio were made of her music, among which the integral works of her quartets recorded by the famous Vilnius Strings Quartet.
As pianist, she stood out as an privileged interpreter of French music: the international and specialized press approved by a large majority her recordings (10 Repertoire, 5 Diapasons) of the complete works for Darius Milhaud’s piano in world premiere.
Festivals
Photo : Nicolas Lestoquoy, Françoise Choveaux, Sébastien Llinares
Germany : Promenades Musicales d’Oldenburg, Auditorium du Philharmonique de Baden Baden, Salle de Musique de Dresde…
England : Kent Musical Festival, Ramsgate Spring Festival…
Belgium: International Festival of Antwerpen, Concerts of the Brussels City Hall, Festival Rode Pomp in Ghent, International Festival of Flandres music
Brazil: Festival of Sao Paulo, Bahia Salvador, Teatro Castro Alves
Spain: Palace of Music in Valencia, Piano festival in San Pere de Rhodes, Piano Series in Madrid, Festival of Malaga, Music festival of Girona, auditorium of the regional conservatory of Linares, Barcelona Theater…
USA : Carnegie Hall, Auditorium of Juilliard School, Lincoln Center (New York), Musical Bridges in San Antonio, Auditorium of Portland, Piano Series in Boston, Pianos Series in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Philadelphia University, UCLA, Columbia University (New York), MIT (Boston), Harvard University (Boston)
Lithuania : Vilnius & Kaunas Philarmonic, National Museum, Tour in Vilnius Theaters with Vilnius string quartet
France : Notre-Dame de Paris, American Church in Paris, Brazil Embassy, Festival Ma Vigne en Musique - Narbonne, Festival Les Théophanies Rieux Minervois, Festival Les Cabardièses, Theater of Arras, Theater of Grenoble, Le Colisée - Roubaix, International festival of Radio-France in Montpellier, Nancyphonies, Musicalta in Alsace, International festival in Lille, Piano nights of Aix-en-Provence, International festival of the Touquet, Floraisons Musicales of Châteauneuf du Pape, International encounters of La Prée, Theater of Montbéliard, Aix-en-Provence Theater, Marseille Theater, Grenoble La Rampe Theater, Musée des Beaux-Arts Lille, Musée LAAM Villeeneuve d’Ascq, Musée LAAC Modern Art Dunkerque, Musée MubaTourcoing, Musée La Piscine Roubaix, La Ferme de Flagey (collaboration with Musée Gustave Courbet Ornans),
Italy : International festival of Spoleto, International Festival in Savona, Pordedone piano festival, Theater of Messin, Emilia Romagna festival, Auditorium of the museum of Napoli, Brescia Festival, Orchestra of the Toscanini Foundation
Iceland : Reykjavik National Museum
Lithuania : Vilnius Philarmonic and main lithuanian auditoriums during a tour
Portugal : Coïmbra international festival, Grand theatre of Madeira
Russia : Music palace in St-Petersburg, Gnessin conservatory in Moscow, Karely and Siberia festival, Concert Hall Novgorod Siberia, Novossibirsk Philharmonic
Switzerland : Conservatoire La Chaux-de-Fonds, Recording in La Chaux-de-Fonds
Tours in Asia : Music palace in Kyoto (Japan), Leum Auditorium, Seoul Arts Center (South Korea)…
Composition Work
Françoise Choveaux has written over 270 opus : orchestral works, solo pieces, music chamber… She likes to write for all instruments. Each of her works is inspired, either by journeys, emotions, or connected directly with a literary or pictorial work.
She likes to work directly with orchestras and musicians. For her, music is sharing.
In 2002, she began an important orchestra cycle. First of all, by pursuing my series of three symphonies for strings today known and interpreted by several orchestras (Saint-Petersburg, Marseille Symphonic Orchestra…). Then, by writing a series of concerti. Her concerto n°2 for violin have been played during a series of concerts in the main cities of Lithuania (September 2002) by the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Her chamber music has always played an important role with works written for soloists and also established formations: her strings quartets were created and interpreted by the quartet of Vilnius, the Russian quartet Rimski-Korsakov, the quartet Debussy, the quartet Ravel, the quartet Danel and the Quartet Stanislas
Guitar: Sébastien Llinares, Nicolas Lestoquoy
Harpsichord: Catherine Zimmer
Piano : Frédéric Neuburger, Ludmil Angelov, Dana Ciocarli, Gaspard Dehaene, Kiryl Keduk, Margarita Höenrieder, Kit Armstrong, Romain Descharmes, Bruno Rigutto, Cyril Guillotin, Borislava Taneva, Atsuko Seta, Joséph Martin, Caroline Sageman, Geoffroy Couteau, Wilhem Latchoumia
Piano 4 hands duet: Duo Aurore
Two pianos duet: Alexandra Radoulova, Gergana Nestorova
Harp : Anne-Sophie Bertrand, solist for the vaFranckfürter Philharmonic, Isabelle Moretti
Violin : Pavel Bermann, Deborah Nemtanu, Gérard Poulet, Vilhelmas Cepinski
Viola: Michel Michalakakos
Cello: Christian-Pierre Lamarca, Emmanuelle Bertrand, Dominique de Williencourt
Flute: Jean Ferrandis, Magali Mosnier
Oboe: François Meyer
Clarinett: Paul Meyer, Fabio Furia
Bassoon: Catherine Marchese, Gilbert Audin
Trombone: Jacques Mauger
Jazz Trio: Saxo: Hugues Rousé, Piano: Frédéric Volanti, Double Bass: Sébastien Dauchy
By clicking below, you can download the catalogue of Françoise Choveaux's compositions.
By clicking below, you can listen to some of my compositions.
Residencies & awards
Residencies
France
Festival Rieux-Minervois “Les Théophanies” France 2019
Narbonne Classic Festival “Ma Vigne en Musique” France 2018-2019
Museum La Piscine In Roubaix France 2017-2018 recording CD “Visions Sonores n° II” concerts in the Museum for the exibition.
Tourcoing town with: the Muba Museum, Conservatory of Music, as well with La Virgule Theatre) France september 2015 to october 2017
LLac Museum of Modern Art Dunkerque France, recording CD “Visions Sonores I at Vilnius Philarmonic . Piano recital for the exibition. 2013-2014
Courbet Museum , Ferme de Flagey, Ornans 2013-2014 France
Residence Abbey de la Prée “Académie des Beaux-Arts France 1999-2001
Brazil
Itaparica Brazil, Sacatar,American Foundation, 2013
Awards
Laureat of Harald Genzmer Composition Competition in Munich Germany 2018
Scolarship from Juilliard School of Music, New-York 1980 USA
Scolarship from French Foreign Ministery France 1979
Rotary scolarship France 1979
Working with Museums
I have been working with museums for several years, on several projects :
Courbet Museum (Ornans, France)
2013
In 2013, I worked during a few months for the Courbet Museum. This museum is in Ornans (Doubs, France) and dedicated to the famous painter Gustave Courbet, who was born here and lived there many years.
There, I wrote two orchestral works : one inspired by Le Chêne du Flagey, one inspired by L’Origine du Monde.
I also wrote a piano album, inspired by the places near Ornans where Courbet has painted.
Laac, Musée d’art contemporain, Dunkerque (France)
2010
In 2010, this museum organized a special exhibition with Jacques Doucet’s paintings. I chose one of them and wrote a piece for piano solo, called The irresistible Cobra. I played this piece for the first time in the museum when the exhibition was inaugurated.
In 2001, for the same museum, I wrote Miniatures lyriques for piano solo, inspired by an exhibitions about famous painters in 1950′s (Hans Hartung, Alfred Mennessier…). These Miniatures was inspired by the graphism of each painting.
Arthur Van Hecke
When I came back in France after my studies in Juilliard School in New York, I lived in north of France, just near Arthur Van Hecke’s home. Self-taught painter, he was discovered by Jean Masurel, famous industrialist and collector of the North at the origin of the museum of contemporary art of Lille (LAM). From then on, Jean Masurel exposed his paintings beside Picasso, Léger… I discussed many time with him about colors, art and music.
These conversations have inspired me for many works especially two works :
• Symphony Indigo for Strings Orchestra op. 2
• Strings Quartet n°1 Souvenirs de Flandres op. 5
Recitals
Working with radios, theaters, dance compagnies and film directors
For many years, I have taken pleasure in collaborating to movies, radios, theater and dance compagnies on several projects.
There are some few examples of collaborations I have done:
Christmas Tale
This tale was recorded by the famous french actor, Michel Bouquet. And it was created in Lille Metropole.
Documentary for the Museum Louvre Lens
I have worked with the producer of this documentary. And we chose together some of my works for the two movies of this documentary.
Ballet Company
I wrote a theme for piano. And every hour, the company was dancing and I improvise on this theme.
Commission for the opening of Odile Duboc National Ballet company
Commision for the Ballet company
Le quadrille des homards directed by choregrapher Sarah Nouveau
Next dates
2020-2021 : upcoming recordings
Upcoming recordings :
- Op 262, American Sonata for saxophone and guitar - Michel Supéra et Nicolas Lestoquoy
- Op 255, Tres Danzas "Recuerdos", guitar duet - Sébastien Llinares and Nicolas Lestoquoy
- “Visions Sonores" III, Works commissioned by the Museum “La Piscine” Roubaix France for the exibition homage to Eugène Dodeigne
- World première 13 Preludes for guitar : Guitar Sébastien Llinares to be recorded and published
Now Working on writing 4 hands piano work .
2020 - Dates postponed
21th April 2020 - Sofia, Bulgaria - World Première
- World premiere “Impression Bulgares op263 “ for 2 pianos
- Bulgarian premiere for Sonata n°1 and preludes : Sonate n I op 119 pour piano “Sonate d’Hiver”, Preludes : Tableaux ; I “Autoportrait à la mine de plomb” 1930, IV” Grande pâture”
19th April 2020 - Narbonne, France - Festival ”Ma Vigne en Musique ” // postponed to april 2021
“Miniatures pour trio d’anches”
Clarinette Paul Meyer, Oboe Françoise Meyer, Bassoon Gilbert Audin
1st May 2020 - Narbonne, France - Festival “Ma Vigne en Musique” // postponed to april 2021
Sonata n°1 for flute and piano
Flute Magalie Mosnier, piano Romain Descharmes
16th May - Polling - Abbey Bavaria, Germany - World Première
- Tango op 261 for four piano hands, bandoneon and string quartett:
Piano Margarita Höenrieder &Kit Armstrong Quartett soloists of Munich Opéra
- Piano quintett n°4 op 250
Piano Margarita Höenrieder, string quartett soloists of Munich Opera.
27th September - Espace Culturel Bondues - World Premierepo
World première Lovesong Book I
Françoise Choveaux piano, Hugues Rousé Saxophone.
April 2021 - Commissions from Le Musée La Piscine Roubaix France - World Première
- Piano quintett n°5 op 265
Piano Margarita Hôenrieder, string quartett soloists of Munich Opera
- Piano quintett n°6 op 268
Piano Margarita Hôenrieder, string quartett soloists of Munich Opera- Piano préludes n°5 OP231, n6 232, n7 op233,n10 op236, n11 op 237
Piano Françoise Choveaux
- Choral for 4 hands and string quartett op266
Piano Françoise Choveaux & Margarita Höenrieder, string quartett,soloists of Munich Opera
- Poem for cello and piano op267
Soloists of Munich Opera.
2019
19th March - World Première - Luxembourg
Prelude for piano n° 7 op 174 cahier I & II
Piano Borislava Taneva
13th April - World Première - Narbonne Classic Festival "Ma Vigne en Musique"
Prélude n°1 cahier II for piano
Piano Bruno Rigutto
Prelude n°4 cahier I for piano
Piano Gaspard Dehaene
21st Avril - World Première - Narbonne Classic Festival "Ma Vigne en Musique"
Prelude n°1 cahier II for piano
Piano Geoffroy Couteau, Château de Bouïs Gruissan
26th May - 4th August - Les Théophanies Festival - Château de Rieux Minervois, France
Residency. 4 creations :
26th May - World Première - op 253 romance for violin and piano “ Le Baiser”
Violin Deborah Nemtanu, piano Cyril Guillotin.
23th Juin - World Première - op 257 “ Belh m’es quand lo vens” for choirs
Vocal ensemble Soli Notirem.
7th July - World Première - op 255 “Recuerdos, Tres Danzas” for two guitars
Guitar Sébastien Llinares and Nicolas Lestoquoy.
4th August - World Première - op 256 valse for piano
Piano Bertrand Giraud.
27th July - World Premiere - International piano festival “Les Cabardièses” Pennautier France.
Op 252 “Danses françaises” for four hands piano
Piano Dana Ciocarlie and Christiane Baume Sanglard.
28th July - World Première - International piano festival “Les Cabardièses” Pennautier France.
Op 217 Prelude - Tableau 1 for piano
Piano Yunn-An Lee
4th August - World Première - St Ursanne international piano Festival - Switzerland
op 251 Summer Sonata for piano
Piano Margarita Höenrieder
20th November - World Première - Chiang Mai Ginastera international Music Festival, Thaïland.
op 256 “ Homage to Ginastera”
Piano Atsuko Seta
17th November - World Première - Chiang Mai Ginastera international Music Festival, Thaïland.
Op 260 Sonata Argentina
28th November - Premiere for the music of the movie "Les flambeaux d’Ascq” - cinema Meliés Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
2018
[COMPETITION] Award of the international award for composition « Herald Genzmer » in Munich
[WORLD PREMIERE] 13th & 15th November
World premiere in La piscine Museum in Roubaix for works for piano, Jazz Orchestra. France
[CONCERT] 26th November
Françoise Choveaux performed her Concert no 2 for piano and string orchestra (op 26) in Kosovo, for the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Contact
francoise.choveaux@
+33 786 519 312
© 2020 Francoise Choveaux