Céline Frisch
Céline Frisch was born in Marseille and started playing the harpsichord at the age of six. In 1992, she was awarded her first harpsichord and chamber music prizes at the Conservatoire of Aix-en-Provence. She then carried on studying at the Schola Cantorum in Bâle with Andreas Staier and Jesper Christensen, before being graced with her soloist certificate. Winner of the “Juventus Prize” in 1996, she became, in 2002, the first harpsichord player ever chosen for the “Victoires de la Musique Classique”.
It was in 1993 that she started giving recitals and participating to chamber concerts, collaborating with such artists as the bass viol player Juan Manuel Quintana.
Today, she is mainly involved in her activities as a soloist and as a member and director of the Café Zimmermann orchestra, which she founded with Pablo Valetti in 1998. Thus, she performs as a guest star in the greatest French concert halls, (such as the Théâtre de la Ville, Radio France, the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, the various festivals taking place in Ile-de-France or even in Roque d’Anthéron), as well as in Washington, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Seoul, Brussels, Lisboa…
The international musical press has vividly praised her performances of J.S. Bach’s pieces. However, she is also inclined to explore 18th century French music, English virginalists works and 17th century German pieces. Moreover, Celine Frisch appreciates experimenting with contemporary creations and 20th century pieces (Ligeti, Dutilleux, Manuel de Falla, Alfred Schnittke, Brice Pauset or François Sarhan…).
Dedicated to the music of Bach, D’Anglebert or Rameau, her recordings all have been warmly encouraged and praised by the critics and have been graced with the greatest prizes by the specialized press. Indeed, her recording of the Goldberg Variations was awarded the “Diapason d’or of the year” as well as the “Choc de l’année du Monde de la Musique”. Her recording of Rameau’s “Pièces de clavecin” was awarded a “Grand prix de l’Académie du disque Charles Cros”, as well as a Choc de Classica and a Diapason d’or. In 2010 she recorded an anthlogy of pieces by the young Bach and precursors, which has also been given a Choc de Classica and a Diapason d’or. Her last recordings with the two books of Well tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach came out in 2015 and 2019 and were awarded with several distinctions (Diapason d’or, Choc de Classica, ffff by Telerama, Disco del mese from the Italian magazine Amadeus and Gramophone UK). Her next recording coming out in Septembre 2021 is dedicated to French repertoire from the Louis XV era.