Valentine Michaud

Press

• Album: PhilZuid / Duncan Ward / Valentine Michaud

  Nov 2023

  • Incendiary the Dance Suite by Béla Bartók paves the way to Peacock Tales by Anders Hillborg, composed for clarinettist Martin Fröst, who devised mime and lighting to go with it. Now performed by saxophonist Valentine Michaud who during the concerts wore a beautifully feathered mask. Yet the piece is aurally theatrical enough: a spectacular battle erupts between soloist and orchestra in a cacophony of sound languages and styles. Though somewhat on the sharp side, details in Debussy's La Mer are nicely highlighted, such as the woodwinds at the beginning, above the deep harp strings. When violin, flute or oboe break free, the melodies reflect like rays of light on the undulating basses. Jeux de vagues is not a limp flirtation but real play, the percussion majestic.

    • De Volkskrant
    • 02 November 2023

• World Premiere: ANDERS HILLBORG "Peacock Tales" for saxophone and orchestra

  Luzern Festival

  Sep 2022

  • with the Wiener Philharmoniker & Esa-Pekka Salonen Wiener Traditionsorchester schlägt mit seiner Solistin [Valentine Michaud] das Pfauenrad. Die Wiener Philharmoniker begeistern unter der Leitung von Esa-Pekka Salonen mit sinnlicher Moderne und einer Uraufführung mit optischem Showeffekten. ... Der Solopart von «Peacock Tales» («Pfauen-Erzählungen») mit seiner breiten stilistischen Palette, die auch Jazz- und Minimalelemente einschliesst, lässt die spielerischen Qualitäten der Französin, die in der Schweiz lebt, auf das Schönste erstrahlen. Under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Vienna Philharmonic inspires with sensual modernity and a world premiere with visual show effects. ... The solo part of "Peacock Tales" with its broad stylistic palette, which also includes jazz and minimal elements, allows the playful qualities of the Frenchwoman, who lives in Switzerland, to shine in the most beautiful way.

    • Luzerner Zeitung
    • 08 November 2022