Benjamin Alard's principal passion has always been the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and it was for his interpretation of this great composer that he was awarded First Prize and Prize of the audience in the 2004 International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges.[1]
While still quite young he began studying music in his hometown in Dieppe, France. He was soon drawn to the organ and entered the Conservatory of Rouen where he studied with Louis Thiry and François Ménissier.
Since 2005 he has been organist of the Bernard Aubertin organ in the church of Saint-Louis-en-l'Île in Paris where each season he gives concerts about the music of Bach.
Benjamin Alard performs regularly in principal musical centers world-wide, from Paris to Moscow and Saint-Peterbourg (Mariinsky Theatre) and further afield, to Tokyo, Washington, San Diego, Boston, Madrid, Barcelona, Switzerland or Belgium.
Discography
Alard in 2010
Benjamin Alard has recorded for the label Hortus and has made several recordings of works by J.S. Bach for Alpha Classics (Trio Sonatas, Clavier-Übung I and II). His recordings have consistently received high praise from the press and have been awarded multiple prizes.
He now devotes himself to the complete works for harpsichord and organ solo of Johann Sebastian Bach for harmonia mundi. Seven boxes, of 18, are already available. The artistic approach of Benjamin Alard, as well as his huge project, have been widely acclaimed by classical magazines and cultural medias around the world.[2][3][4][5][6]In October 2022, harmonia mundi has published the seventh volume dedicated to Bach's "Orgelbüchlein".
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): The Complete Works for Keyboard
Volume 6: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (1720) BWV 846-869, marking the work’s 300th anniversary. Programme Supplements: Little keyboard book for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach; 6 Preludes for beginners on the keyboard BWV 933-938 assigned to Wilhelm Friedemann Bach - Benjamin Alard, Historical Harpsichord Hicronymus Albrecht Haas (Hamburg, 1740), Musée instrumental de Provins, France / ClavichordJohann Adolph Hasse (Hamburg, 1763), Musée instrumental de Provins, France. (3CD, harmonia mundi, March 2022). Press awards: Editor's Choice May 2022[8] and Best Classical Music Album of the Year 2022[9] on Gramophone (UK), Diapason d'Or (FR),[10] ***** Classica (FR).
Volume 2: Towards the North, 1705-1708 - Lübeck, Hamburg, Erbarm dich mein, The Traveler. Programme Supplements: works by Buxtehude, Reincken, Pachelbel. Benjamin Alard, organ Freytag-Tricoteaux (2001) after Arp Schnitger (Church Saint-Vaast de Béthune, France) / Claviorganum Blumenroeder (2009-2010) / Harpsichord François Ciocca (Riccia, 2003) after Grimaldi (Messina, 1697) / organ Quentin Blumenroeder (Haguenau, 2010). (4CD, harmonia mundi, April 2019).
Benjamin Alard plays J.S. Bach: Bach's owns works transcribed by himself for harpsichord, Reincken and Vivaldi (2007, Hortus 050)
Other organ recordings
J.S. Bach - Wachet auf!: Six Schübler Chorales BWV 645-650 and other works. Benjamin Alard, organ Michel Giroud from the Church Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption of Arques-la-Bataille, France. (2016, coproduction L'Autre Monde - Académie Bach).
^""Dieser Musiker verfolgt eine Lebensaufgabe: die Einspielung des Gesamtwerks für Tasteninstrumente von Johann Sebastian Bach." Regine Müller (Germany)". www.rondomagazin.de. April 2019.
^""It will undoubtedly be one of the most important recording projects of this century." David A. McConnell (Worldwide)". theclassicreview.com. April 2020.
^""… he [Benjamin Alard] is a classy player, and this is certainly a project with the potential to tell us much about its noble subject. Definitely worth following." Lindsay Kemp (United Kingdom)". www.gramophone.co.uk. July 2020.
^""L'artiste s'est lancé dans une audacieuse intégrale de l'oeuvre pour clavier de Bach. Toute sa musique pour clavecin et pour orgue. Une aventure au long cours dont les premières étapes dévoilent déjà bien des trésors." Philippe Venturini (France)". www.lesechos.fr. February 2021.
^""Le fulgurant, péremptoire, parfois visionnaire Benjamin Alard poursuit au clavecin, à l'orgue et sur un clavicorde plus muséal une intégrale de l'œuvre pour clavier de Bach qui fera date" Christophe Huss (Canada)". www.ledevoir.com. November 2021.
^"Benjamin Alard's page about Bach's keyboard integral". www.harmoniamundi.com.
^"Gramophone Editor's Choice". www.gramophone.co.uk. May 2022.
^"The Best Classical Music Albums of 2022 (So Far)". www.gramophone.co.uk. November 2022.
^"Diapason d'or pour le Bach de Benjamin Alard". www.diapasonmag.fr. May 2022.
^"I dischi 5 stelle del mese" (PDF). www.rivistamusica.com. March 2022.
^"Discos Excepcionales de mayo 2021". scherzo.es. May 2021.
^"Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik - Category: keyboard instruments". www.schallplattenkritik.de. March 2020.
^"Critics' Choice 2020: Albums of the year". www.gramophone.co.uk. December 2020.
^"Discos Excepcionales de octubre 2020". scherzo.es. October 2020.