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Alain Roche (born in 1973) is a pianist, composer, and Swiss performer, recognized for his innovative performances in the field of contemporary music. He is particularly known for his Piano Vertical project.
Alain Roche performs his "piano vertical", playing on a grand piano suspended in the air. Since 2013, more than 120 piano suspensions under the name "Les ciels" (The Skies) have taken place in various countries, including Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, Austria, Germany, and China. The pianist plays even in rain, at temperatures between five and 40 degrees, and in winds up to 72 km/h.[1][2][3][4][5] A special mechanism returns the keys to their original position after being pressed.[6] The audience listens to the concert through headphones.
On August 11, 2024, he participated in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Biography
editAlain Roche began his musical training at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, where he specialized in musical creation for theater and dance. Starting in 2013, he gained recognition with his revolutionary project, the Piano Vertical, where he plays the piano suspended in the air.[7]
Career
editThe Piano Vertical project began in 2013 and quickly attracted attention across Europe. Roche plays his grand piano suspended several meters above the ground, often in urban or natural settings, transforming the act of playing the piano into a complete physical and artistic performance. This approach is praised for its originality and impact on the contemporary music scene.[8]
In 2019, he launched the Chantier project, where he integrates sounds captured on construction sites into his performances. This project was presented at festivals such as Lieu Unique in Nantes and further solidified his reputation as an avant-garde artist.[9]
Between 2023 and 2024, he performed a series of 182 morning performances as part of his project **Solstice to Solstice**, played in Munich between the winter solstice and the summer solstice. These concerts, given at dawn, combine music with the sounds of nature.[10]
He participated in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Collaborations and projects
editAlain Roche regularly collaborates with dancer and choreographer Stéphanie Boll, with whom he founded the Boll & Roche company in 2012. Together, they explore the interactions between music and movement in innovative stage creations.[11]
Selective discography
edit- Winter Solstice (2023)
- Summer Solstice (2024)
- L'Insolence du Printemps (2014)
- H (2014)
- C (2011)
- R & O (2008)
Notes and references
edit- ^ Rita Argauer: Klingt wie am Schnürchen. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung. 23. Januar 2020.
- ^ Andreas Kolb: Senkrecht-Virtuose. In: Neue Musikzeitung. 12/2019.
- ^ Er spielt Klavier – 7 Meter über der Erde hängend. In: Euronews.
- ^ Fotos von taggesschaus Beitrag. In: Facebook-Konto der Tagesschau (ARD). 16. August 2019.
- ^ Pictures of the Day: 17 June 2019. In: Daily Telegraph. 17. Juni 2019.
- ^ Klavierkonzert 60 Meter über dem Boden schwebend. In: Bayerischer Rundfunk (Mediathek). 24. Januar 2020.
- ^ "Alain Roche". culturevalais.ch. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "Piano vertical "Chantier" - Alain Roche". lelieuunique.com. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "Alain Roche presents his musical creation "Chantier"". lelieuunique.com. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "The pianist Alain Roche played six months in the air, from one solstice to the other". ground.news. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "Swiss artist Alain Roche plays piano hanging from a crane in Munich". gulftoday.ae. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
