FOREVER IN YOUR ARMS

A living legend in the dance world, Marie-Claude Pietragalla is hailed around the globe as one of the greatest and most influential dancers and choreographers of our time. At the age of sixteen, she enters the Paris National Opera and Ballet, and just several years later, she becomes “First Dancer” of this illustrious institution, with the recommendation of the great Rudolf Nureev. In 1990, she is awarded the highest position in the company, “Star Dancer”, a title that will open all the doors to an extraordinary and exceptional career.

At the Paris National Opera, she interprets the ballets of the greatest choreographers of dance history, such as George Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, Rudolf Nureev, Maurice Béjart, Jiří Kylián, Roland Petit, Mats Ek, William Fortsythe, Jerome Robbins and Carolyn Carlson.

In 1998, she is named Director of the Marseille National Ballet and the Marseille National Dance School. During her tenure in Marseille, she creates no less than nine new choreographies, all hailed by the public and the press. In 2000, she becomes the first dancer to ever perform in Paris’ legendary rock concert hall L’Olympia. In this show, named Don’t Look Back, she performs a dance solo that will later become her international signature, presenting it all over the planet, during the next ten years.

In 2004, Marie-Claude Pietragalla founds, with dancer and choreographer Julien Derouault, the company Le Théâtre du Corps (The Theatre of the Body). Dedicated to innovative contemporary dance and to unusual multidisciplinary projects that bring together dance, music, theatre, video, and visual arts, the company has already created more than twenty new choreographies that have all been presented on tour, in major venues and festivals around the globe.

Marie-Claude Pietragalla has received, during her career, the highest and most illustrious distinctions from the French Republic: she was named Knight of Arts and Letters, Knight of the National Order of Merit, Knight of the Legion of Honor, and Officer of Arts and Letters.

Acclaimed as one of today’s most fascinating dancers and choreographers, Julien Derouault is an audacious, eclectic, and courageous artist who is never afraid of taking risks on stage. Praised by the public and the international press for his charisma and boldness, his performances are marked by infinite energy and originality.

As a hyperactive child, he discovered dance at the age of twelve, and most particularly modern jazz. Recognized by his mentors as a child prodigy, he started studying dance at the Le Mans Conservatory in France, following the advice of the renowned choreographer Redha. After he impressed the famed dancer and choreographer Roland Petit, Julien Derouault was admitted to the classical dance class at the Marseille National Dance School.

In 1998, France’s most celebrated dancer, Marie-Claude Pietragalla, is named as director of the Marseille National Ballet. Very quickly, the two artists collaborate on a variety of daring projects, and Julien Derouault becomes Marie-Claude Pietragalla’s most trusted choreographic assistant. After receiving the title of “soloist” from the company in 1999, he participates in all of the company’s new choreographies, both as performer and as assistant choreographer. 

Strongly attracted to sculpture, Julien Derouault and Marie-Claude Pietragalla embark on an unusual journey when they decide to explore the life and the destiny of Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin. This long research results in the world premiere of Sakountal, one of their most celebrated choreographic projects internationally. Following the immense success of this show, they create five more new ballets - Autumn Flowers, Vita, Drunkenness, Not God nor Master, and Don Quixote, where Julien Derouault is the lead dancer.

In 2004, Julien Derouault and Marie-Claude Pietragalla decide to leave the Marseille National Ballet in order to found their own company, Le Théâtre du Corps. Since its founding, this company has gained tremendous fame internationally, touring with almost twenty different shows around the world, in the last fifteen years.

During his career, Julien Deroualt has collaborated with various legendary choreographers, such as William Forsythe, Rui Horta, Claude Brumachon, Richard Wherlock et Rudi Van Dantzig. Recently, he was hailed by the press for his choreographic and theatrical performance in the title role of Lorenzaccio, his company’s new show.

Thanks to his stunning virtuosity, immense audacity and unique approach to music, Jérémy Bruyère is recognised today as one of the most extraordinary double bass soloists of the young generation. Also a composer, arranger, and fabulous electric bass performer, he has been hailed by the press and the public as an outstanding musician, both in the worlds of classical and jazz music.

After receiving his Master in double bass from the Lyon National Conservatory in France, Jérémy Bruyère traveled to the United States to study at the prestigious New School, in New York. Upon his return to Europe, he was spotted by several renowned jazz artists who immediately invited him to perform with them on several international tours. In the following years, he therefore collaborated with such celebrated musicians as Didier Lockwood, Ibrahim Maalouf, Tigran Hamasyan, Mélodie Gardot, Jacky Terrasson, John Ellis, Shai Maestro, Baptiste Trotignon, and Cyrille Aimée.

Recently, as part of the Thomas Ehnco Trio and the Laurent Coulondre Trio, he won two major prizes, at the French Jazz Awards.

As a classical musician, he has collaborated with renowned orchestras and ensembles, such as the Verbier Festival Orchestra, Lyon National Orchestra, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Ensemble Appassionato, Arod Quartet, Voce Quartet, and many others.

In 2014, he decided to found his own grout, named the Jérémy Bruyère Quartet. After winning with this new ensemble the First Prize at the Matmut Jazz Trophy in 2016, he went on to sign a contract with Belleville Jazz Records. In 2017, the Jérémy Bruyère Quartet released its very first album, named « Pictures », receiving praises from jazz magazines all over the world.

In 2020, Jérémt Bruyère receives - as part of the Laurent Coulondre Trio - the Best Jazz Album Prize, at the French Jazz Academy Awards. This album, which pays tribute to the legendary jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani, has been hailed by the critics for its beauty, originality and imaginative vision.

In addition to his activity as a performer, Jérémy Buryère is also a guest professor at the prestigious Didier Lockwood Music Center. He is also a prolific photographer whose works have been published as part of numerous artistic projects, collaborations, and magazines. 

A member of the Geneva Camerata since 2017, he has participated in numerous unusual and adventurous projects with the orchestra, ranging from Baroque and Classical repertoire, all the way to jazz, blues, rock, funk, contemporary, electronic, and world music.

Known for his eclectic and fascinating programmes, conductor and pianist David Greilsammer is recognised as one of today’s most audacious and adventurous classical artists. The New York Times has awarded his albums Baroque Conversations and Mozart In-Between as “Recordings of the Year”, in addition to selecting his recital Scarlatti:Cage:Sonatas as one of the ten most important musical events of the year.

Praised as creator of numerous ground-breaking musical projects, ranging from baroque to contemporary music, David Greilsammer has also been celebrated for his Mozart performances. He has performed in Paris all of Mozart’s piano sonatas in a one-day “marathon” and recently, he has played and conducted all of Mozart’s twenty-seven piano concertos, in one season. In the past years, David Greilsammer has released four recordings on the Naïve label, and more recently, three prize-winning albums for Sony Classical.

Since 2013, David Greilsammer serves as Music and Artistic Director of the Geneva Camerata, one of the most daring, bold and innovative orchestras internationally. He has recently performed as guest conductor/soloist with the BBC Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony, La Verdi Orchestra di Milano, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Mexico National Symphony, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony.

He has recently given solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall in London, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Mostly Mozart Festival in New York, Verbier Festival, Forbidden City Theatre in Beijing, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Venice Biennale, and Kennedy Center in Washington.

David Greilsammer’s latest piano recital, named Labyrinth, has been described by the press as “fascinating and courageous”. This daring solo programme will be released this season on a new album, in addition to being performed on tour throughout the USA, Europe and Asia.