Hélène Grimaud

Born in Aix-en-Provence in 1969, she studied with Jacqueline Courtin at the local conservatory, then with Pierre Barbizet in Marseille. She was admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris at the age of thirteen and, three years later, won first prize in piano performance in 1985. She went on to study with György Sándor and Leon Fleisher. In 1987, she gave her first recital in Tokyo and was invited by Daniel Barenboim to perform with the Orchestre de Paris—marking the start of a brilliant international career.

Between her debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1995 under Claudio Abbado and her appearance with the New York Philharmonic in 1999 under Kurt Masur, she founded a very different kind of project: the Wolf Conservation Center in New York State.

Her passion for wolves began with a chance encounter in northern Florida, which sparked a lifelong commitment to the protection of this endangered species. Her advocacy extends beyond wildlife: she is also a member of Musicians for Human Rights, a global network of musicians and music professionals working to promote a culture of human rights and social change. She is the author of three books that have been translated into several languages.

It is, however, through her music—marked by deep thought and expressive tenderness—that she most powerfully touches audiences around the world. Her solo recitals and performances with orchestra have taken her to the most prestigious venues internationally. A dedicated and passionate chamber musician, she regularly performs at major music centers and festivals alongside artists such as Sol Gabetta, Rolando Villazón, and Jan Vogler. In recognition of her exceptional contributions to classical music, she was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the French government.

Hélène Grimaud has recorded exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon since 2002.