In Memoriam Solon Michaelides (Strovolos)

Soloist: Jean-François Dichamp (piano)
Conductor: Fabien Gabel

Programme:
S. Michaelides: In memoriam (Tribute to the imprisoned graves) for string orchestra (1974)
W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
L. v. Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

Ticket prices: €12 and pensioners €7
Free entrance for students, soldiers and EURO<26 card holders

In 1982, Jean-François Dichamp, as a 12 year-old boy, made his first major appearance on TV screens playing the part of the young Mozart in Marcel Bluwal's epic film. Until then, he had been a musician rather than an actor. He began to study piano with his mother at an early age and continued studying at the Boulogne Conservatory with Geneviève Ibanez. After his successful experience on screen he chose the difficult route of a career in music at the Paris Conservatory, and the circuit of international piano competitions. A student of Jean-Claude Pennetier, Jean-François Dichamp was unanimously awarded his Premier Prix at the Conservatory in 1986. He became one of the most brilliant students of Nikita Magaloff, and later of Maria Curcio, with whom he studied for four years in London. A follower of Schnabel, Maria Curcio brought depth to his knowledge for the piano, and enlarged his musical horizon. He won three prizes at the Santander international piano competition (finalist prize, «young talent» award, and the Madame Arthur Rubinstein award for the best interpretation of Chopin). This signaled the start of a career which brought him acclaim in Spain as well as many other countries. He has appeared in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Ireland, England, the USA, Mexico, Turkey, Colombia, Paraguay and Chile. "A very sensitive artist" according to the Times, "a natural gift for Chopin" The Independent of Sunday; "The audience was completely enamoured, Dichamp was showered with applause and cries of bravo", El Diaro de Monterrey, while in France L'Humanité hailed "an exemplary maturity in this young musician". Jean-François has appeared as a pianist at France Musique and in various festivals, including the Chopin at Duzniky, Le Touquet, Arcachon, the Chorégies d'Orange, the "Midis musicaux du Châtelet" in Paris, Festa da Musica da Lisbonne, International Piano Festival of la Roque d'Anthéron and "Folles Journées de Nantes". Recently he recorded two CDs for the Lyrinx label, featuring works by Chopin and Liszt respectively and received excellent reviews such as "(...) brings to the ear an acute sense of magical harmony", Répertoire.

Fabien Gabel first attracted international attention in 2004 when he won the prestigious Donatella Flick conducting competition in London, giving him the opportunity to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra and become its assistant conductor for the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons. Subsequently, he has been invited to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra in regular concerts. February 2003 marked his conducting debut with the Orchestre National de France at the Presences Festival. Since then, the Orchestre National de France has invited him back regularly. A frequent guest conductor with leading orchestras, Fabien Gabel has conducted or is to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Barcelona, the Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra, the National Taiwan Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra at the Musical Olympus Festival, the Orchestre Symphonique de Bienne, the Orchestra of the Teatro Reggio di Torino (Filarmonica 900'), the Prague Chamber Symphony, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. A native of Paris, Fabien Gabel began studying trumpet at the age of six. He honed his skills on this instrument at the Musik Hochschule of Karlsruhe and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, the latter awarding him with a First Prize in trumpet in 1996. For many years he played in various Parisian orchestras under the direction of some of the great conductors of our time such as Pierre Boulez, Sir Colin Davis, Riccardo Muti, Seiji Ozawa, Simon Rattle, and Bernard Haitink. In 2002, Fabien Gabel pursued his interest in conducting at the Aspen Summer Music Festival where he studied with David Zinman. He has been mentored by Armin Jordan, and has had close collaborations with Bernard Haitink, Sir Colin Davis and Paavo Jarvi.