About

Florent Héau studied at the Paris Conservatory (CNSM de Paris) in Michel Arrignon’s class. After having received several First Prizes between 1991 and 1995 in international competitions, Florent Héau has quickly established himself as one of the most important figures of the French clarinet school; a brilliant tradition he himself relentlessly perpetuates worldwide, by both giving concerts and master-classes.

Florent Héau has contributed to several premieres such as “Chant des Ténèbres” (concerto for clarinet and orchestra) by Thierry Escaich, “Aizgor” by Félix Ibarrondo, “Sonatina lapidaria” by Nicolas Bacri and “Encore” de Karol Beffa. In 2011, he premiered Philippe Hersant’s clarinet concerto with the Orchestre de Bretagne.

Regularly invited to various festivals (Deauville Folles Journées de Nantes, Bel-Air in Chambery, Orangerie de Sceaux, Auvers-sur-Oise), Florent Héau continues to expand his circle of chamber music partners, including Marielle Nordmann, Marcela Roggeri, Gerard Causse, Roland Pidoux, Henri Demarquette, Jérôme Ducros, Régis Pasquier, Patrice Fontanarosa, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon and the Prazak, Manfred, Ysaÿe and Parisii quartets.

He has appeared as a soloist with the European Camerata, the Orchestre de Bretagne, the Orchestre de Picardie, the Orchestre de la Basse-Normandie, the Orchestre de Nancy, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, the Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra and the Prague Chamber Orchestra, to name a few.

In addition to being an exceptional musician, Florent Héau is also a skilled showman, whose multiple talents are revealed through performances with “Bons Becs” a musical theatre ensemble with whom he not only plays the clarinet and the ‘musical saw’, but also tap dances.

Héau will be beginning his 2014 season with recutals and masterclasses in Korea and in Ostrava in the Czech Republic. He has also been invited by the “Festival Printemps des Arts” in Monaco, the Kyoto Academy and the “Festival des Flâneries de Reims”, and will be giving a recital and master-classes in Hong Kong.

Over the years, he has enjoyed continuous success with his recordings of various programs, including Sonatas by Brahms and Reger (with Patrick Zygmanowski), the Trios of Beethoven (with Jérôme Ducros and Henri Demarquette), pieces for clarinet and strings by Nicolas Bacri, the chamber works of Mozart (with Manfred Quartet) and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, Transart Live label). His most recent recording with pianist Marcela Roggeri si dedicated to the Argentinean composer Carlos Guastavino’s music (TransArt Live).

A renowned teacher, Florent Héau is clarinet professor at the Paris CRR and at the Osaka College of Music in Japan. He is regularly invited to teach in many countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia.