At the age of 12, he entered the conservatory, where he received first place among 16-year-old comrades. To pay for his studies, as well as to improve himself, he began to play the piano. He worked for Michel Sardou, Thierry LeLuron and Johnny Halliday.
In 1976, he was invited by a record producer to try out with 20 other pianists to record ballads. As a result, he was chosen, and from that moment his popularity increased significantly.
Creation
The world-famous "Ballad for Adeline" (Fr. Ballade pour Adeline), written by Paul de Senneville (Fr. Paule de Senneville), made him a star. It has sold 22 million copies in over 30 countries.To date, Clayderman has recorded over 1200 musical works and released over 100 CDs with a total circulation of 90 million copies.
Richard Clayderman is a French pianist, arranger, performer of classical and ethnic music, as well as film scores. Richard Clayderman has recorded more than 1,200 pieces of music and released over 100 CDs with a total circulation of 90 million copies. The world-famous "Ballad for Adeline" (Fr. Ballade pour Adeline), written by Paul de Senneville (Fr. Paule de Senneville), made him a star. It has sold 22 million copies in over 30 countries.
The name of the French pianist, arranger Richard Clayderman is on the posters of more than 2,000 concerts around the world, he participated in the recording of 1,200 plays and sold 85,000,000 copies of his own albums. He has 350 platinum and gold music awards in his collection. He played his stellar Ballad for Adeline over 8,000 times.
Actually, it all started with her, when in 1976 Richard got to an audition organized by French producers. They were looking for a performer, and not just a pianist, but the best, who could handle a piece called "Ballad for Adeline" by Paul de Senneville. At the time, Clayderman was only 23 years old, but he was already quite successful. However, he was named the best for the first time. After a stubborn struggle to sign a contract, Richard defeats 20 competitors. After recording the single, the record sold 38 million copies, and it's time for the producers to be surprised by such luck.
Clayderman's popularity lies not only in the music he performs, but also in the skill with which he does it. The audience is delighted when he easily copes with classical, pop, rock, ethnic music, he is equally good at romantic melodies and complex overtures. Richard's virtuoso game can be compared to author's dishes from the chef in a restaurant with three Michelin stars. Throughout the 38 years of his career, the unique performing talent of the Frenchman has only increased. One of the famous German music critics wrote that Klaiderman did as much to popularize the piano in the world as only Beethoven did before him. Richard himself admits that everything he achieved is due only to his own father, who taught the boy how to make money on the piano keys and the family, which supported and believed in the musician's finest hour.
Klaiderman spends most of his life on tour around the world. One of the biographers calculated that in total the pianist spent 21 years outside his native country. During this time, fans presented him with 50,000 bouquets and gifts. In addition to solo concerts, which are always popular, Richard actively performs with the London Philharmonic, Beijing and Tokyo symphony orchestras, New Zealand and Austrian national orchestras. The list of celebrities with whom he played can be listed for a long time: from A - Aretha Franklin, to Z - Zawinula Joe.
Interestingly, Clayderman is the record holder for sales among pianists… on the black market! More than 35 million pirated CDs of his music have been released, and these are just the ones that could be counted by copyright agents.
Richard Clayderman (pianist) - live at MMDM March 31, 2014
Richard Clayderman (real name Philippe Pagès) was born on December 28, 1953 in France. His father, a piano teacher, began teaching him music at a very early age. Thus, at the age of six, Richard could read music more fluently than his native French.
When Richard was twelve years old, he was admitted to musical conservatory where, at sixteen, he won first prize. He was destined for a promising career as a classical pianist. However, shortly thereafter, and to everyone's surprise, Richard decided to pursue contemporary music.
But at this time, Clayderman's father becomes seriously ill and he is no longer able to support his son financially. To earn a living, Rich
ard finds work as an accompanist and musician. His talent does not go unnoticed, and he soon becomes very much in demand. He has worked with French stars such as Michel Sardou, Thierry LeLuron and Johnny Halliday.
However, his life changed dramatically in 1976 when he received a call from Olivier Toussaint, a famous French producer who, with his partner, Paul de Senneville, was looking for a pianist to record a romantic ballad. Paul composed this ballad as a gift to his newborn daughter Adeleine. Richard, 23, auditioned along with 20 other applicants and, to his amazement, got the job.
The ballad was released in 38 million copies. It was called "Ballad for Adeline".
This was the beginning of what is called
a growing success story, and since that time Richard Clayderman's distinctive piano style has earned him superstar status worldwide. Today he has recorded over a thousand melodies and, according to a German journalist, "he may have done more to popularize the piano throughout the world than anyone since Beethoven." Richard Clayderman has created a "new romantic" through his repertoire, which combines classical and pop music. His CD sales have already exceeded 70 million.
The biggest price Richard Clayderman thinks he has to pay for international fame is the time he spends outside his family. Richard says his family accepts it as part of their commitment to his millions of fans.
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Mehdi is one of the best musicians of our time. His work is a new step from the world of alternative to the world of instrumental music. Modern rhythms, rich varied color of performance, unusually beautiful transfer of feelings... All over the world, his music has received a well-deserved calling of genius.
Mehdi is from Iran. Moving to New York at the age of three with his family, he was exposed to a wide variety of musical movements. “When I was a child, the first recording I heard by ear was Mozart,” notes Mehdi. At the age of five, this led him to take piano lessons. By the age of seven, he masterfully played it and used in his repertoire various percussion instruments such as: dumbek, bongos and tab. “Later I added a bell, a forged dulcimer and a santoor,” he says. “But my favorite instrument is the synthesizer. Technology has always fascinated me and I love creating my own unique pieces of music. The most important part of working with synthesizers is to avoid the electronic or artificial sound of the music. The less it is, the better, so I prefer to compose simple but full of energy melodies that come from the heart.”
Mehdi was nine years old when his family left for Southern California. At the time, he was rapt magic music from the movie. “The first record I ever bought was the Rocky soundtrack. I will never forget how I was carried away by one track with a very atmospheric sound. string instruments Mehdi says. “This music plays at the end of the fight, just before Rocky yells AdrianAdrian! As a child, I was simply inspired by this movie." Mehdi came up with the concept of how to reach unprecedented heights. Every day, he spent a lot of time practicing on various instruments, creating new music. "Most of the music from my first three albums was written in adolescence Mehdi says. "I have composed hundreds of compositions over the years."
Mehdi's musical career unfolds in the 80s. He writes music for such TV channels as: Feature Films, Discovery Channel, Nova, National Geographic Documentaries; works with other musicians as a producer, arranger and programmer. In the mid-90s, having learned about the new musical direction "New Age", he begins his solo career.
MEHDI music always captivates the listener, the emotions and expressiveness in the compositions are so great that the listener wants to enjoy these melodies again and again, most likely this can be called the height of composer perfection, taking us to the world of pure and natural nature. No wonder Mehdi is called a contemporary of instrumental melodies, which combines various oriental styles and directions. In his arsenal musical instruments you can just get confused, here is a small list of instruments with which musicians give us these charmingly beautiful melodies: Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Cello, Flute, Live Orchestral Strings, Electric Guitar, Persian Oud, Sitar, Santoor, Hammered Dulcimer with Rhythmic Hand Percussion, Drum Kit all Placed in Lush Orchestral Arrangements...