Richard Clayderman

Born in Paris in 1953 under the name Philippe Pagès, Richard Clayderman rose to prominence at the end of the 1970s with an approach to the piano that lies between instrumental pop, romantic music, and popular classical music. Trained at the conservatory from a very young age, he recorded in 1976 for the French producers Olivier Toussaint and Paul de Senneville the piece Ballade pour Adeline, published in 1977, which permanently launched the name Richard Clayderman. His repertoire rests on lyrical melodies, accessible orchestral arrangements and adaptations of classical themes, chansons and film music, in a style centered on the solo piano, accompanied by light or symphonic ensembles. Across the 1980s and 1990s, Richard Clayderman developed a very extensive discography, notably Ballade pour Adeline (1978), Lettre à ma mère (1979), Couleur Tendresse (1982), A Pleyel (1983), The Classic Touch (1985), Love Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber (1989), Together at Last with James Last (1991), In Harmony with James Last (1994), and Tango (1996). His career spans an international circuit of concerts and television programs, in Europe as well as in Asia, with a lasting presence on stages dedicated to mainstream instrumental music. Richard Clayderman thus has built a distinctive path around a melodic, direct piano, highly identifiable.