Pascal Wintz was born in 1966 in the French Alps near the beautiful
city of Annecy. After obtaining his diplomas for piano jazz
and composition from the Conservatoire Populaire de Genève,
Pascal Wintz turned towards classical music, obtaining the prize
"Gabriela de Agostini" and entered the class of virtuosity
at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris.
"First of all, I learned to improvise on the piano in pure
jazz-man style and gave my first jazz concerts", he asserts.
"Then, I studied the extremely demanding discipline of classical
music. Whilst studying in Paris, I interpreted the Beethoven's
3rd Concerto with the Cities University Symphony Orchestra".
Pascal Wintz then made a start giving classical recitals: The
United Stated Foundation in Paris, The French Alliance in Denver,
The Red Cross Museum in Geneva, Paquet Cruises on the Mediterranean
Sea, a tour with the Orchestra of the Savoy Region of France.
When his first passion caught up with him, Pascal Wintz introduced
jazz into his recitals and presented a cocktail of music from Bach
to Duke Ellington.
Inspired by American Musical Comedies and 1930's Jazz, he found
a repertoire which suited his musical talents.
When his first passion caught up with him, he introduced jazz into
his recitals and performed his variegated programs from Bach to
Duke Ellington.
Through American musical comedies and 1930's Jazz, he found a repertoire
which fitted his musical aspirations.
Using a fluent neo-classical writing style, he has adapted these
popular themes for the piano and has proved his talents as an improviser
and interpreter.
"Today, I make a composition of the two styles in my own arrangements.
I am particularly at ease with Gershwin's music, both jazz and classical
at the same time and with 1930's Jazz at once melodious and lively."
Since 1995, Pascal Wintz has travelled with his own Steinway Concert
Grand Piano, which he transports to all locations using a marvellous
motorised machine, the "Klavier-Roller".
He has also released several recordings: Jazz Piano 1930,
Genuine Jazz Piano, Stompin' with Gershwin, Divertiento Viennois,
Plays Broadway, West Side Story, Piano Romantique, Antigone Variations. "I would like to demonstrate through my musical journey",
he concludes "that Gershwin and the Broadway composers, deserve
an important place in twentieth century music; like Mozard and Chopin,
they were able to write music both brilliant and popular".
Since his first engagements in 1991, Pascal Wintz has performed
over one thousand times.
CONCERT PROGRAMS
1930's PIANO JAZZ
The joyful and refined atmosphere of the Cotton Club during the
crazy years
With a repertoire entirely devoted to 1930's Jazz, Pascal Wintz
shifts into top gear with gay, lively Swing accentuated by the rhythmic
complexities of the music overlaying it.
He relates particularly to the Kings of Jazz such as 'Fats' Waller,
Art Tatum and Duke Ellington, whose compositions set standards of
musicianship. He has been inspired by their rollicking, brilliant
style, and adds his "French touch" along with his classical
background.
Trained in recitals of Beethoven and Liszt, Pascal Wintz is able
to arrange his own programs and exploit all the resources of the
piano to capture the attention of large audiences. His concerts
let us rediscover the standards of classical jazz interpreted with
a disconcerting ease and innate sense of Swing.
Pascal Wintz is among the rare pianists who can travel with their
own piano. He is able to give concerts in all types of venues
and places under the best conditions with his own Steinway Concert
Grand Piano which he transports himself.
GERSHWIN RECITAL
Both Jazz and classical, Pascal Wintz has a partiality for George
Gershwin's music.
Gershwin's music leaves much freedom for interpretation and lends
itself to improvisation.
It requires new interpretations based on a solid jazz background
- and classical too - to be able to adapt and perform in concert.
Pascal Wintz is amongst those musicians without boundaries.
He recites Gershwin's music with arrangements for piano solo, for
two pianos and as soloist with orchestra.
Program:
Musical Comedy Suites: Romantic melodies, swing, stomps, balads : A concert
which reveals all the richness and variety of George Gershwin's
music.Solo piano arrangement by Pascal Wintz
• Lady Be Good (They Can't Take That Away From Me, The Man
I Love)
• Funny Face (High Hat)
• Strike Up The Band (Soon)
• Of Thee I Sing (Love Is Sweeping The Country, Who Cares)
• Porgy & Bess (Summertime, It Ain't Necessaraly So, Bess
You Is My Woman, I've Got Plenty Of Nutty)
Rhapsody In Blue - with orchestra and piano solo
Pascal Wintz has been performing Rhapsody In Blue for over ten years.
His first concert critique of Rhapsody piano solo dates back to
1997 at the Château de Ripaille at Thonon. "An absolutely
fantastic, forceful interpretation of virtuosity and sensitivity..."
wrote the reporter present at the concert. He has since given
more than fifty concerts with Rhapsody in Blue. His mastery
and his intimate knowledge of this work has led him to interpret
this masterpiece as soloist with the Symphonic Orchestra of
Belgorod under the Direction of Andreï Galanov.
Practical information and Services - Pascal Wintz is living in Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France
close to Geneva
- Concerts for cultural centres, city halls, tourist offices, company
celebrations
- Musical evenings and entertainment for weddings, corporate events,
private concert - Choice of piano solo, duo with double bass or trio with
drums
- Performances with the piano delivered and installed by the pianist
in the Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Swizterland, Rhône, Isère
- Go anywhere in Europe from Geneva airport
RECORDINGS
PASCAL WINTZ recorded several CDs of live performances.
Jazz Piano 1930
Genuine Jazz Piano
Plays Broadway
Gershwin Recital
Romantic Piano
REFERENCES
Salle Rameau Lyon
Musikmesse Francfort
Festival de Montreux
Engagements by Pascal Wintz and his musicians:
Rhapsody in Blue with the Belgorode Symphonic Orchestra
at Chambéry (2000 spectators)
Recital at the Salle Rameau, Lyons (500 spectators)
Dîner-concert at Maison de l’Amérique Latine
in Paris
Jazz cocktail on the Yachts de Paris
After dinner with jazz trio for the G5 at the Royal Evian
Recital at the Fondation Merieux
Dinner-concert at the Equinoxe de Paris
Recital with cantatrice de l'Opéra at Hôtel de Ville
de Lyon
Dinner-concert at the Montreux Palace
Dinner-concert at Karl Lagerfeld in Paris
Recital for l'Onera à la soufflerie de Modanne
Recital at the Château de Bagnols
Performance et Casino de Lyon
Concert with jazz trio at Hilton in Prague
Concert at the Tufts University in Talloires
Recital at BFM de Genève
Tour"Carmina Burana"with the Minsk Symphonic
Recital at Riom International Piano Festival
Recital et Centre Culturel de Sucy-en-Brie
Entertainment at the Beau Rivage in Geneva
Recital at the Musikmesse - Francfort
Recital at CERN in Geneva
Recital at the Impérial Palace in Annecy
Concert at Château de Ripaille
Recital at the Alliance Française in Denver (USA)
Recital at teh Red Cross Museum in Geneva
Recital at Montreux Jazz Festival
Concert at Palace de Menthon
Engagements with Paquet Cruises, recitals
in the Mediteranaen See, Middle East and Brazil(1996-97)
Tour in the Alps with Orchestre des Pays de Savoie
Recital at Chigiana Academy in Sienna
Recital at Fondation des États-Unis in Paris
Pianist in Biarritz Hôtel du Palais for a summer (1989)
DIPLOMAS
Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris Prize(1991)
Prize of Gabriele de Agostini Foundation (1988)
Graduate in classical piano at the Geneva Conservatoire (1988)
Graduate in jazz piano at the Geneva Conservatoire (1986)
