Marc Pantillon (Piano)

Born: 1957- Texas, USA

The American-born Swiss pianist, Marc Pantillon, was born in Texas and raised in canton Neuenburg in Switzerland, a place with which he maintains a very strong affinity. After receiving his teacher's diploma for piano and organ he undertook studies under the tutelage of Hans Petermandl in Vienna where he earned a diploma "with distinction" in 1983. Paul Badura-Skoda discovered his talent in the same year at the Bösendorfer Competition. Pantillon continued his studies under this great pianist and appeared together with him in concerts performing four-handed piano music.

The soloist's prize offered by the Swiss Association of Musicians in 1987 served as the starting point of his solo career. Since then Marc Pantillon has appeared with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Zürich Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de la Radio suisse italienne, Berne Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Peter Maag and Neuchâtel Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Jean-Claude Casadesus. In 2003 he performed the complete L.v. Beethoven piano concertos in France and the French speaking area of Switzerland.

1990 saw the publishing of his first solo CD "Do Mineur" (Gallo), and 1998 his brilliant album "Musique romantique pour piano" with pieces by the German composer Stephen Heller (Claves). As a mature work he has presented a CD dedicated to Johannes Brahms with the Ballads Op. 10, Intermezzi Op. 117 and Piano Pieces Op. 118 (Claves, October 2005).

Marc Pantillon sees himself first and foremost as a musician and not simply as a pianist, making him one of the most sought-after chamber musicians and accompanists. He plays with the Aron Quartet from Vienna and performed the complete sonatas for piano and violoncello with the cello virtuoso Sébastien Singer in the spring of 2006. Fruitful collaborations have led to numerous CD recordings: The Six Trios from Ignaz Lachner with Stefan Muhmenthaler (violin) and Anna Barbara Dütschler (viola) published under the Claves label (1998) and 'Musik der Romantik für Oboe' with Roland Perrenoud, solo oboist with the Orchestre de la Suisse romande (Gallo label).

Marc Pantillon teaches in the diploma and master-classes at the conservatory in Neuenburg and heads an advanced class for accompaniment at the conservatory in Lausanne.

Source: Musinfo - The Database of Swiss Music Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (January 2011)

Marc Pantillon: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Marc Pantillon (Musinfo)
Marc Pantillon, pianiste (Official Website) [French]

Entretien : Marc Pantillon (Scénes Magazine) [French]