Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt achieves a momentous first.

Here Comes Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt's Unmissable Concert

Get ready, Quebec! On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 7:30 PM EST, the Bourgie Hall in Montreal is hosting an extraordinary piano recital by Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt, marking his inaugural visit to Quebec[1]. This can’t-miss event features a diverse repertoire of tunes by the likes of J.S. Bach/Busoni, Brahms, and Rachmaninov[2].

At the end of 2022, an impressive album on the La Dolce Volta label introduced the 46-year-old Frenchman, Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt, to the music world. This captivating pianist-storyteller delighted listeners with music inspired by ballet: Three Movements of Petrushka by Stravinsky, La Valse and Valses Nobles et Sentimentales by Ravel, and ten pieces from Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev[3]. Discovering this incredible talent caught the attention of the Bourgie Hall's artistic director, Olivier Godin, who invited Fonlupt to perform in his series "Exceptional Pianists."

Fonlupt expresses immense pleasure at the opportunity to perform for the Quebec community. Speaking about the uplifting resonance of the album, he shared, "The album generated positive feedback, offering a sense of affirmation and reassurance that we are on the right path with our passion for music."

The Rachmaninov Affair

One of the incredible bonuses from the album was that it allowed Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt to embrace the "daring Rachmaninov" chapter. "Rachmaninov had been a part of my repertoire, yet I hadn't performed his music in concerts extensively. The album, with its Russian focus, motivated me to bring out his music."

Indeed, audiences at the upcoming concert will have the privilege of hearing Fonlupt perform the Preludes op. 23 of Rachmaninov, a prelude to his second CD, featuring the complete Preludes that he will record from May 6 to 9[2]. Similar to Jaeden Izik-Dzurko's mesmerizing performance a month prior, the Rachmaninov selection promises to be nothing short of extraordinary[2].

When asked about his fascination with Rachmaninov, Fonlupt called Rachmaninov an "impressionistic composer," given the "sensation of being in musical impressions" his works inspire[3]. He pointed out primary inspirations for Rachmaninov, such as paintings by artists like Isaac Levitan or Ilia Repin, Russian literature, and Chekhov, Tolstoy, and the scenic surroundings of the countryside[3].

Rachmaninov's music incorporates a captivating blend of terrifying and reassuring moments with photographic clichés that evoke intense feelings[3]. Fonlupt elaborated on Rachmaninov's complexities, particularly in the Opus 23 No. 3 and the ninth prelude, both of which display haunting intricacies[3]. For Fonlupt, adapted tunes effortlessly expand into elaborate, immersive soundscapes[3].

Aside from Rachmaninov, Fonlupt's concert program will consist of the Chaconne by Bach/Busoni and the 3rd Sonata by Johannes Brahms.

Did You Know?

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Majestic César Franck's Performance with Blackshaw and OM Musicians:Before his Mozart concerto on Wednesday, Christian Blackshaw captivated audiences with two magnificent chamber music masterpieces.

Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt, the French composer, will be showcasing his piano skills at the upcoming concert in Quebec, performing pieces by Rachmaninov, Bach/Busoni, and Brahms.
The album introduced by La Dolce Volta in late 2022 highlighted Jean-Baptiste Fonlupt's passion for music, specifically his fascination with the "daring Rachmaninov."
In his conversation about Rachmaninov's music, Fonlupt referred to the composer as an "impressionistic composer," drawing parallels between Rachmaninov's works and the paintings by Levitan or Repin, Russian literature, and the scenic landscapes of the countryside.
At the concert, audiences can expect extraordinary entertainment through Fonlupt's performance of the Preludes op. 23 by Rachmaninov, a prelude to his second CD featuring the complete Preludes.