Simon Zaoui

“One admires the delicacy and flexibility of his touch, the firmness and clarity of his articulation – but above all the passionate love he brings to the works he shares with the audience.” – Le Monde

A versatile and accomplished pianist who is equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist, Simon Zaoui has developed a distinctive and sought-after career for over twenty years. His diverse artistic activities include collaborations with James Thierrée, Graciane Finzi and Christiane Cohendy, work with the Ballet de Lorraine and a pedagogical partnership with journalist Sabine Quindou at La Seine Musicale. His discography, mainly dedicated to the music of Gabriel Fauré, his role as artistic director of several festivals and his numerous collaborations with fellow musicians and singers, as well as with the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, paint the picture of a passionate and versatile artist.

After studying with Emile Naoumoff, Hortense Cartier-Bresson and Alain Planès at the Paris National Conservatory (CNSMDP) and a residency at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Simon Zaoui was invited to perform as a soloist and chamber musician in Japan, Brazil, the Maghreb and the USA, Brazil, in the Maghreb and the Middle East, in Israel, throughout Europe and in many of France’s leading venues and festivals, including the Festival de La Roque d’Anthéron, Piano aux Jacobins in Toulouse, Les Serres d’Auteuil, La Folle Journée in Nantes, the Festival des Arcs, the Théâtre du Châtelet and Radio France.

His most recent recordings include the complete chamber music of Gabriel Fauré, a recital of Fauré songs around La Bonne Chanson and an album of Beethoven sonatas on a period piano.

His frequent musical partners include the violinists Pierre Fouchenneret and Sarah Nemtanu, the cellist Raphaël Merlin, the Strada Quartet and the singers David Lefort and Fiona McGown.

Simon Zaoui is artistic director of the Cycle Musical de la Chapelle de Kersaint-Landunvez. He writes regularly for the pedagogical section of the magazine Pianiste. He is a professor of piano at the Vincennes Conservatory and works as a répétiteur at the Paris National Conservatory (CNSMDP).