David Fray (Piano)
Described by the press as the “perfect example of a thinking musician” (Die Welt) and acclaimed for his interpretations of music from Bach to Boulez, David Fray performs in world’s major venues as a recitalist, soloist and chamber musician. He has collaborated with leading orchestras under distinguished conductors such as Marin Alsop, Semyon Bychkov, Andrey Boreyko, Christoph Eschenbach, Daniele Gatti, Paavo Järvi, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Sanderling, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Jaap van Zweden. Orchestral appearances in Europe have included the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, London Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonic, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Salzburg Mozarteum, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Orchestre de Paris, and Orchestre National de France. David Fray made his US debut in 2009 with the Cleveland Orchestra followed by performances with the Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has given recitals at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Park Avenue Armory in New York, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and appears regularly at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Mozarteum Salzburg, London’s Wigmore Hall, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, and many other major venues.
This season, Mr. Fray tours the United States with the Wroclaw Philharmonic with Giancarlo Guerrero and returns to the Baltimore Symphony with Marin Alsop, the Van Cliburn Foundation, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He embarks on recital tours with Bach Goldberg Variations in Europe, Russia and China, where he also tours with the Vienna Radio Symphony. Mr. Fray will perform Bach keyboard concertos for two, three, and four pianos in Abu Dhabi and will collaborate in recital with violinist Renaud Capuçon as well as baritone Benjamin Appl. He also starts his residency at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest as a visiting professor.
Last season, Mr. Fray returned to North America with the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. The Théâtre des Champs Elysées presented a Bach cycle with David Fray performing Bach’s keyboard concertos, Sonatas with Renaud Capuçon, and Goldberg Variations. He gave recitals in Amsterdam, Budapest, Dresden, Milan, Istanbul, Santiago, and toured South Korea and Russia. European orchestral collaborations included the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony, and play-directing the Casa da Musica Orchestra in Porto.
Mr. Fray released two discs this past season: Bach Concertos for 2, 3, and 4 pianos, a “musical family affair” along with his teacher Jacques Rouvier and his former students Audrey Vigoureux, Emmanuel Christien, and Bach Violin Sonatas with Renaud Capuçon. In 2017, Mr. Fray released a CD of selected Chopin piano works which was followed by his first public performances of the composer’s music. The previous disc called “Fantaisie,” an album of Schubert’s late piano works, was named Gramophone Editor’s Choice and Sinfini Music called it “one of the most appealing listening experiences of present times” and “exceptionally thoughtful and touching.” Mr. Fray records exclusively for Erato/Warner Classics and his first album with works of Bach and Boulez was praised as the “best record of the year” by the London Times and Le Soir. Mr. Fray’s second release, a recording of Bach keyboard concerti with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen was awarded by the German Recording Academy. An album with Schubert Moments Musicaux and Impromptus followed. Mr. Fray’s other critically acclaimed releases include Mozart piano concerti with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Jaap van Zweden and Bach Partitas Nos. 2 and 6 along with Toccata in C minor. In 2008 the TV network ARTE +7 presented a documentary on David Fray directed by the renowned French director Bruno Monsaingeon. The film “Sing, Swing & Think” was subsequently released on DVD.
David Fray holds multiple awards including the German Echo Klassik Prize for Instrumentalist of the Year and the Young Talent Award from the Ruhr Piano Festival. In 2008 he was named Newcomer of the Year by the BBC Music Magazine. At the 2004 Montreal International Music Competition, he received both the Second Grand Prize and the Prize for the best interpretation of a Canadian work.
David Fray started taking piano lessons at the age of four. He furthered his studies with Jacques Rouvier, who is also featured on his latest Schubert album, at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris.
