Jean-Paul Penin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Paul Penin is a French conductor.
, chamber music
, 1978) and the University of Strasbourg
where he obtained a PhD. in biophysics
in 1974 and a Master's degree in musicology
in 1978. He went on to the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique where he studied musicology with Yves Gérard
in 1978. He was a Fulbright scholar in 1979 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
where he studied analysis with John Coolidge Adams
and obtained a M.A. in conducting.
In 1979 he was an award winner at the international Tokyo Min-On Competition. He was Alain Lombard
's assistant at the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra
from 1980 to 1981 and Lorin Maazel
's assistant at the Vienna Staatsoper from 1982 to 1984. He was principal guest conductor at the Kraków Philharmonic
Orchestra from 1989 to 1993.
In May 1986, Penin stepped in with just one night's notice, for a live Dutch radio symphony concert (NOS). Again, in 1990, when he was just back from a Russian tour, he performed at the Concertgebouw
in Amsterdam, for the Dutch première of Olivier Messiaen
's piano concerto La Ville d'en haut, in the presence of the composer, (Yvonne Loriod, soloist, TV broadcast, Radio Philharmonic). This had been premièred by Pierre Boulez
in New York one year before. (De Volkskrant, November 12, 1990).
Penin was given the exclusive rights by Bärenreiter
for the French première of Berlioz's Messe Solennelle
, which had lately been discovered. He recorded the work (first world recording, Vezelay
Basilica, October 7, 1993, Radio France
, Accord-Universal and France Télévisions
), and was invited to conduct the work all over the world, including the Teatro Colón in Buenos-Aires in May 1998 and at the Santander International Festival in 2003.
In September 2000, he was invited to Prague for the Dvořák Festival, with the National Radio-Symphony Orchestra. Following this concert, he was invited to tour with the orchestra (Berlioz
, l'Enfance du Christ
, Madrid, Auditorio Nacional, 2002 and 2003 with Spontini's Fernand Cortez). Three years in a row, the Concertgebouw
series invited him for tour concerts (Berlioz, Saint-Saëns
, Rachmaninov
, Tchaikovsky
).
One of his concerts (Bartók
-Debussy, 2002) with the Dresden Philharmonic was broadcast live on the radio in 24 countries. This was followed by a Berlioz program at the Dresden Semperoper Staatskapelle in 2004. The previous year the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet
had invited him to conduct Poulenc
's Dialogues des Carmélites. After two series with the KBS Symphony Orchestra
in Seoul
, he was invited by the Korean National Opera to take part in a production of Offenbach
's Tales of Hoffmann).
France : National Arts et lettres Order : Chevalier (1997)
Biography
Jean-Paul Penin is a graduate of the Strasbourg Conservatory of Music (double bassDouble bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, 1978) and the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
where he obtained a PhD. in biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
in 1974 and a Master's degree in musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
in 1978. He went on to the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique where he studied musicology with Yves Gérard
Yves Gérard
Yves Gérard is a French musicologist.-Life and career:Born on January 6, 1932, Yves Gérard studied philosophy at the Nancy-Université from 1949 to 1955. Following his graduation, he studied piano for three years at the Nancy Conservatory. From 1955 to 1956 he studied at the Sorbonne under...
in 1978. He was a Fulbright scholar in 1979 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, formerly the California Conservatory of Music, founded in 1917, is a music school, with an enrollment of about 400 students. It was launched by Ada Clement and Lillian Hodgehead in the remodeled home of Lillian's parents on Sacramento Street. It was called the...
where he studied analysis with John Coolidge Adams
John Coolidge Adams
John Coolidge Adams is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer with strong roots in minimalism. His best-known works include Short Ride in a Fast Machine , On the Transmigration of Souls , a choral piece commemorating the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks , and Shaker...
and obtained a M.A. in conducting.
In 1979 he was an award winner at the international Tokyo Min-On Competition. He was Alain Lombard
Alain Lombard
Alain Lombard is a French conductor.-Career:Lombard attended the Conservatoire de Paris, where his studied violin with Line Talleul and conducting with Gaston Poulet. He subsequently secured an appointment at the Opéra National de Lyon in 1961, and later became principal conductor from 1961 to 1965...
's assistant at the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg
The Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg is a French orchestra based in Strasbourg. It is one of the two permanent orchestras of the Opéra national du Rhin. The orchestra's current principal venue is the Palais de la musique et des congrès « Pierre Pflimlin » .The orchestra was founded in 1855...
from 1980 to 1981 and Lorin Maazel
Lorin Maazel
Lorin Varencove Maazel is an American conductor, violinist and composer.- Early life :Maazel was born to Jewish-American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine in France and brought up in the United States, primarily at his parents' home in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. His father, Lincoln Maazel , was...
's assistant at the Vienna Staatsoper from 1982 to 1984. He was principal guest conductor at the Kraków Philharmonic
Kraków Philharmonic
The Kraków Philharmonic or the Cracow Philharmonic , is the primary concert hall in Kraków, Poland, named after the renown Polish composer and pianist Karol Szymanowski. It is the home of the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra....
Orchestra from 1989 to 1993.
In May 1986, Penin stepped in with just one night's notice, for a live Dutch radio symphony concert (NOS). Again, in 1990, when he was just back from a Russian tour, he performed at the Concertgebouw
Concertgebouw
The Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
in Amsterdam, for the Dutch première of Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
's piano concerto La Ville d'en haut, in the presence of the composer, (Yvonne Loriod, soloist, TV broadcast, Radio Philharmonic). This had been premièred by Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
in New York one year before. (De Volkskrant, November 12, 1990).
Penin was given the exclusive rights by Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter is a German classical music publishing house based in Kassel. The firm was founded by Karl Vötterle in Augsburg in 1923, and moved to Kassel in 1927, where it still maintains headquarters; it also has offices in Basel, London, New York and Prague...
for the French première of Berlioz's Messe Solennelle
Messe solennelle (Berlioz)
Messe solennelle is a setting of the Catholic Solemn Mass by the French composer Hector Berlioz. It was written in 1824, when the composer was twenty, and first performed at the church of Saint-Roch, Paris on 25 July 1825, and again at the church of Saint-Eustache in 1827. After this, Berlioz...
, which had lately been discovered. He recorded the work (first world recording, Vezelay
Vézelay
Vézelay is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France. It is a defendable hill town famous for Vézelay Abbey. The town and the Basilica of St Magdelene are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites....
Basilica, October 7, 1993, Radio France
Radio France
Radio France is a French public service radio broadcaster.-Mission:Radio France's two principal missions are:* To create and expand the programming on all of their stations; and...
, Accord-Universal and France Télévisions
France Télévisions
France Télévisions is the French public national television broadcaster. It is a state-owned company formed from the bringing together of the public television channels France 2 and France 3 , later joined by the legally independent channels France 5 , France Ô , and France 4 France Télévisions ...
), and was invited to conduct the work all over the world, including the Teatro Colón in Buenos-Aires in May 1998 and at the Santander International Festival in 2003.
In September 2000, he was invited to Prague for the Dvořák Festival, with the National Radio-Symphony Orchestra. Following this concert, he was invited to tour with the orchestra (Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
, l'Enfance du Christ
L'enfance du Christ
L'enfance du Christ , Opus 25, is an oratorio by the French composer Hector Berlioz, based on the Holy Family's flight into Egypt. Berlioz wrote his own words for the piece. Most of it was composed in 1853 and 1854, but it also incorporates an earlier work La fuite en Egypte...
, Madrid, Auditorio Nacional, 2002 and 2003 with Spontini's Fernand Cortez). Three years in a row, the Concertgebouw
Concertgebouw
The Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
series invited him for tour concerts (Berlioz, Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
, Rachmaninov
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
, Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
).
One of his concerts (Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
-Debussy, 2002) with the Dresden Philharmonic was broadcast live on the radio in 24 countries. This was followed by a Berlioz program at the Dresden Semperoper Staatskapelle in 2004. The previous year the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet
Norwegian National Opera and Ballet
The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet is the first fully professional company for opera and ballet in Norway. Its seat is the Oslo Opera House.It was founded in 1957...
had invited him to conduct Poulenc
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was a French composer and a member of the French group Les six. He composed solo piano music, chamber music, oratorio, choral music, opera, ballet music, and orchestral music...
's Dialogues des Carmélites. After two series with the KBS Symphony Orchestra
KBS Symphony Orchestra
The KBS Symphony Orchestra is one of the most famous symphony orchestras in South Korea. It was founded in 1956 as the radio orchestra of the Korean Broadcasting System ....
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, he was invited by the Korean National Opera to take part in a production of Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
's Tales of Hoffmann).
Official awards
Poland : Merit National Order : Officer (1993)France : National Arts et lettres Order : Chevalier (1997)
Sources
- Entry "Jean-Paul Penin", Dictionnaire des interprètes, Paris, Laffont, collection "Bouquins".
Compositions
- Nuits Parisiennes, Suite for orchestra. Premiered in Milano (December 12, 2004, Orchestra Pomeriggi musicali)
- Nuits Parisiennes, complete ballet
Recordings
Jean-Paul Penin is praised by the musical press for his interest for forgotten masterpieces. {TAZ 03 06 / Opéra International 01 97}- Beethoven's cantatas Joseph II and Leopold II.
- Berlioz's Messe Solennelle.
- Carl Maria von WeberCarl Maria von WeberCarl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
's Der FreischützDer FreischützDer Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It premiered on 18 June 1821 at the Schauspielhaus Berlin...
, French Berlioz's version with recitatives. - Spontini's Fernand CortezFernand CortezFernand Cortez, ou La conquête du Mexique is an opéra in three acts by Gaspare Spontini with a French libretto by Etienne de Jouy and Joseph-Alphonse d’Esmenard...
, which he also premiered in Paris (2002), under the sponsorship of the Napoleon Foundation and stage-premiered at the Erfurt Opera House, 2006). Fernand Cortezhttp://www.multimania.com/fcortez - Chabrier's opera Gwendoline, whose recording was praised as "one of last years' most interesting recordings" (opéra international).
- Antonio SacchiniAntonio SacchiniAntonio Maria Gasparo Sacchini was an Italian opera composer.Sacchini was born in Florence, but was raised in Naples, where he received his musical education at the San Onofrio conservatory. He wrote his first operas in Naples, thereafter moving to Venice, then London and eventually Paris, where...
's Oedipe à ColoneOedipe à ColoneŒdipe à Colone is an operatic 'tragédie lyrique' by Antonio Sacchini first performed at Versailles on January 4, 1786 in the presence of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The libretto, by Nicolas-François Guillard, is based on the play Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles...
, given by King Louis XVI for the opening of the Versailles Royal Palace opera house.
Writings and links
- Les Baroqueux ou le Musicalement Correct, Editions Gründ, Paris, 2000.
- NMZ, Neue Muzikzeitung.
- L'Interprète face à la partition. Muséographie ou appropriation ? Prague National Music Academy 2000
- Messe Solennelle
- Site Berlioz 2003
- Les Premières Armes du jeune Berlioz: La Messe Solennelle, Revue Internationale d'Etudes musicales, Editions Jean-Michel Place, Paris, 2004.]
- "La Messe Solennelle de Berlioz", Le Monde, October 13, 1993
- "La Messe Solennelle de Berlioz", La Croix, October 13, 1993
- "De Ontdekking van Berlioz's Messe Solennelle", (Werner Gladines, 2007, Dutch/French/English)