Lluis Claret, Author at CelloBello

About Lluis Claret

Born in Andorra, Spain in 1951, from exiled catalan parents, Lluís Claret began his musical studies at the age of 9. His musical future would be strongly marked by his contact with great teachers such as Maurice Gendron, Radu Aldulescu and Enric Casals (Pablo Casals brother) who, though not a cellist, would be his principal musical adviser for many years. His meetings with György Sebök, Eva Janzer and Bernard Greenhouse were also to be decisive for the development of his artistic personality.

First Prizes at the Casals (1976) and Rostropovitch (1977) Competitions helped to project an international career to the principal capitals of Europe, America and Asia. He received invitations from The Washington National Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, English Chamber Orchestra, France National Orchestra, as well as others in cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Bamberg, Moscow, Madrid, Barcelona, and has played under the baton of Vaclav Neuman, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Pierre Boulez, Karl Münchinger, Dimitri Kitaienko, Sakari Oramo and Georges Malcom among others.

Chamber music and pedagogy are an important and essential part of Lluís Claret’s professional activity. He founded the Barcelona Trio (1980-1993,) performs regularly with the pianists Josep-Maria Colom and Benedicte Palko and collaborates very often with other prestigious musicians at Festivals like Kuhmo, Naantali, Ernen, l’Epau, Pablo Casals (Prades,) Granada, Seoul. He teaches at the “Victoria dels Angels” School of Music at Sant Cugat (Barcelona,) the Liceu Conservatory (Barcelona,) the Toulouse Conservatory (France,) and gives master classes in France, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, USA, Japan and Korea. Together with Bernard Greenhouse he conducts a seminar at the Abbey of Fontfroide (France.)

Lluís Claret has regularly served as a jury member of international competitions including Rostropovitch-Paris, Paulo-Helsinki, Pablo Casals-Kronberg, and Adam- New Zealand. His great interest in contemporary music has brought him in close professional collaboration with Henri Dutilleux, Witold Lutoslawski, Kristoff Penderecki, Joan Guinjoan, Iannis Xenakis and Pierre Boulez.

To find out more about Lluis Claret, visit his website at www.lluisclaret.ad

The Bach Suites, A Deep Mirror — by Lluís Claret

I am posting today some thoughts regarding my upcoming performance of all the cello suites of Bach, in Barcelona, next October 6th. A "3 hour conversation with Bach," by which I mean playing all the 6 Suites in one evening, is a rare privilege, and at the same time, an opportunity to devote months of work gazing, probing, until their is transparency in this greatest of all music given to us by the Kantor of Leipzig. In this period of reflection, the performer's goal and intention should be to imbue his own spirit into the depths of the pieces, and become inspired and elevated by this music of such extraordinary dimensions. After a concert a few years ago, somebody who had never heard my playing said, "I can feel the [...]

By Lluis Claret|2024-01-03T14:07:00-05:00March 30th, 2019|Categories: Artistic Vision, Repertoire, Self Discovery|Tags: Bach Suites, performance, experiences, perfection, Bach, opportunity, Interpretation, reflection, cello, Claret, cellobello, Lluis, music, Suites|

Thanks Bernie, You Saved My Cello Life! — by Lluís Claret

I met Bernard Greenhouse for the first time at the First World Cello Congress in Washington D.C. in 1988. I invited him for the following year to give master classes at the school in Barcelona, knowing of his enormous international reputation. He told me that it was a great pleasure to come to the city where his grand maître Pablo Casals had lived, taught and played so many times. I could not imagine then in what ways and to what extent our association would change my life as a musician! His teaching was as much a confirmation of the lessons I had learned from Enric Casals and Radu Aldulscu as a revolution on how to get the best out of each pupil. First and foremost I would like to point out his [...]

By Lluis Claret|2017-10-30T04:52:01-04:00December 27th, 2015|Categories: Artistic Vision, Bernard Greenhouse, Interpersonal Relationships, Self Discovery|Tags: Bernard Greenhouse, cellobello, CelloBlog, Greenhouse Tribute, Lluis Claret|

Three Cellos are Better Than One — by Lluís Claret

Greetings from Spain to all CelloBello people! This is a big honor and I am full of excitement to be joining your community! I would like to begin my first blog with some personal thoughts about: three cellists living together at home! Yes, my family is made up of 3 cellists: my wife Anna, a former student and assistant; our son Daniel, also a former student; and myself. (Our daughter Aina "just" plays piano...!) Some of my colleagues may find it hard to believe we could have a successful, "peaceful" family life when there are 3 different cello personalities sharing practice space and time under the same roof. But I can tell you, it works. So, what makes it possible? Gÿorgy Sebök, the great pianist, pedagogue, and one of my main musical [...]

By Lluis Claret|2017-10-04T03:15:35-04:00April 18th, 2011|Categories: Artistic Vision, Interpersonal Relationships, Self Discovery|Tags: making music, performer, ideas, personal ideas, Interpretation, connection, respect, expression, searching, soul, artistry, colleagues, cello, chamber music, cellobello, Claret, beauty, ego, family, performance, success, Lluis|