Guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre "Visages Baroques" - CD Review, November 2nd 2023

Jean Philippe Rameau- L'Entretien des muses, Johann Sebastian Bach- Partita no. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825: I. Preludium Melodie; Jacques Duphly -Pièces de clavecin, Livre 3.

At only 27 Frenchman Raphaël Feuillâtre is one of the most impressive guitarists of the moment. He launched his first album on March 31st under the aegis of Deutsche Gramophon, after previously recording two discs which reveal the diversity of his extensive repertoire, ranging from baroque to contemporary creations.

In international specialized publications he is praised in for his sensitivity, the suppleness of his interpretations, musical intelligence, and his remarkable expressive power.Those are qualities that guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre demonstrates through his new album, which is comprised of baroque creations by Johann Sebastian Bach, Jaques Duphly, Jean Philippe Rameau, Joseph Nicolas Royer, and Antoine Forquaray. These creations were originally composed for harpsichord, and interpreted by the French musician as arrangements for guitar, some of them premiered on record. "Visages Baroques" is the title of the album presented by guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre, designed to share his love for baroque music.

The disc's title "refers to the different qualities that each work poses through its arrangements, but also to the multiple facets of the guitar that are revealed here through the repertoire choices" says Raphaël Feuillâtre.

Guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre, born in 1996 in Dijbouti, on the northeastern coast of Africa was raised in Cholet, France. He began playing guitar from the age of 7, encouraged by his parents, who, even though they weren't musicians, recognized their son's extrordinary talent. Later, the young guitarist studied at the Cholet and Nante's conservatories. Between 2015 and 2020 he studied at Paris Conservatory, where his guitar professors were Roland Dyens and Tristan Manoukian.

He was also guided by Judicaël Perroy, from whom he learned how to prepare for important competitions. And so, in 2018, after he obtained some awards and won some international competitions in Spain, France and Czech Republic, Raphaël Feuillâtre won the International Concert Artist Competition, a prestigious contest organized by Guitar Foundation of America. Since then his career has significantly took off, and the French guitarist has gone on to perform on stages across Europe, South America, The United Stated, and Canada. This fall, Raphaël Feuillâtre is going to hold a series of recitals in Germany and France, during which he will also present piese from his album, "Visages Baroques", recorded in October 2022 in Berlin.

Since then, his career has taken on significant proportions, and the French guitarist has gone on to perform concerts on stages across Europe, South America, the United States, and Canada. This fall, Raphaël Feuillâtre is holding a series of recitals in Germany and France, during which he also presents pieces from the album 'Visages Baroques,' recorded in October 2022 in Berlin.