Description

Stephanie-Marie Degand is now one of the few performers capable of mastering the techniques and codes of a repertoire spanning from the 17th century to contemporary creation. Trained in Caen by the pedagogue and conductor Jean-Walter Audoli, as well as by Emmanuelle Haïm, she entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris unanimously in the class of Jacques Ghestem. She immediately asserted a pioneering approach of breaking down barriers between repertoires by also integrating the early music department. She thus benefited from the teachings of masters such as Jacques Rouvier, Alain Meunier, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, but also William Christie, Christophe Rousset, Patrick Bismuth, and Christophe Coin. She obtained 4 first prizes and pursued advanced studies in violin before embarking on an atypical career. A confirmed soloist, passionate chamber musician, committed solo violinist, conducting, and above all, transmission: nothing escapes this artist with “a straight mind and ardent imagination” (P. Baillot, official violin method of 1803). This artistic approach is regularly praised: Adami Grand Prix 95, 2nd Grand Prix of the Ferras-Barbizet Competition 97, Classical Revelation at the Midem 98, Natexis Laureate 99, Sacem Prize 2002, Revelation “Instrumental Soloist” at the Victoires de la Musique. Her discography faithfully illustrates this insatiable musical curiosity, beginning with a solo violin recital album that made an impression: “From Biber to Tanguy,” featuring three violins and four bows, including a composition by the composer Eric Tanguy, to whom she is dedicated. With the Concert d’Astrée, which she co-founded with Emmanuelle Haïm, and where she was the solo violin and then the musical assistant, she recorded a repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Mozart. With her partner Violaine Cochard, she recorded a highly regarded Mozart-Duphly album. She has recorded concertos by Chevalier de Saint George as well as Tchaikovsky, Haydn, Schumann, Dubois… Upcoming releases include Couperin’s Royal Concerts with Christophe Rousset and Onslow’s Sonatas with Daniel Isoir. She performs as a soloist in the most prestigious venues, under the direction of Emmanuel Krivine, Francois-Xavier Roth, Jeremie Rhorer, Laurence Equilbey, especially in the classical and romantic repertoire on historical instruments. Her preferred chamber music partners include Marie-Josèphe Jude, Francois-Frederic Guy, Christie Julien, Christophe Rousset, Emmanuelle Bertrand, Marc Coppey, Miguel Da Silva… In 2015, she made her debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Hall. In addition to her concert activity, she is gradually dedicating herself to conducting. From the violin, she has conducted the Liège Philharmonic Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, the Orchestre d’Auvergne…but she has also been assistant conductor for Don Giovanni by Mozart at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées at the end of 2016. Holding the CA, she is a violin professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique et de Danse de Paris, but also teaches in the early music department, approaching the repertoire on historical instruments. Depending on the repertoire, she plays two magnificent Italian violins from the 18th century: Joseph Catenari, Turin 1710 and Gennaro Gagliano, Naples 1752.