Overture Magazine 2013-2014 September-October 2013 | Page 10

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Piano Man

From the keyboard to his wardrobe, Jean-Yves
Thibaudet challenges classical-music stereotypes.
by Christianna McCausland

J

ean-Yves Thibaudet, a native of Lyon, France who has
played the piano since age five, has released more than
50 albums and was the soloist on the Oscar and Golden
Globe-award-winning soundtrack to the film Atonement
and the Oscar-nominated Pride & Prejudice. Here he talks
about fashion, films, and his quest to find the perfect beach,
and why it’s important to “always be nice to your audience.”

8 O v ertur e |

www. bsomusic .org

What is unique about making
music for film?
Thibaudet: When you’re playing
a concert, you play the way you want
and follow your own story. You can be
completely free to interpret the way you
want. When you play for a soundtrack
— I don’t like the pejorative, but the
music becomes like a slave to the story.
In fact, you play with a monitor in front
of you, and we have a script we follow
as well so you arrive at exactly the right
time [in the scene]. Timing is the most
important thing, but you also have to
convey a feeling, an atmosphere, to
add to what’s happening on the screen.
When you watch a movie, a scene without music is so flat.
Are there other reasons you find
film scores rewarding?
Thibaudet: It’s a unique way to reach

© D ecca /K a ssk ar a

Your repertoire of work is so
diverse. How has your interest
in music evolved?
Thibaudet: I like to discover and try
new things. The worst that can happen
is that if you don’t like something, you
don’t do it again. With music, it’s the
same. I’ve always been curious about
every kind of music. When I was a child,
classical music was what I knew with
maybe a little pop because I would hear
that in my older sister’s room. When I
was a teenager, I discovered jazz, which
became an important part of my musical
life, and other music like world music.
I started playing chamber music when
I was 11, which was eye-opening for
me because you have to listen to other
musicians — as a pianist, you could very
well spend life as just you and your piano.
Accompanying singers came later in my
life and I fell in love with that. I think
it’s the most beautiful and intimate
music-making experience. Then, out of
the blue, a filmmaker asked me to play
in one of his movies and I thought ‘Oh,
that will be fun.’ I did it and became
completely fascinated.