Lydie Solomon has a unique and astounding artistic path behind her
Early international career of a child prodigy
Up to the age of eighteen, Lydie has followed a classical pianistic course, showing brilliant and precocious aptitudes.
Recognised as a child prodigy, Lydie Solomon played at 2 years old by ear ‘Ode to Joy' by Beethoven. At 5, she was admitted at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris-Alfred Cortot:
Abu Dhabi Week (Rachael Peacock), 2014-10-02
« Piano prodigy. Since she started learning piano at the tender age of two, Lydie Solomon has risen to stardom in the classical music industry, giving her first performance at just 10-years-old. »
The National (Feargus O'Sullivan), Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-14
« First spotted as a musician when caught playing Beethoven by ear at the age of 2, Solomon was only 10 when she made her professional debut. »
She gave her first recital at ten at the “Printemps Musical de Silly” in Belgium and her first concert with orchestra at thirteen, with the “Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine”, at Radio France, the concert being broadcast on France Musique.
She was awarded a “Premier Prix de Perfectionnement” at the “CNR de Paris”, with the jury's unanimity and congratulations, was then admitted at Jacques Rouvier's class at the “CNSM de Paris”, from which she was awarded at eighteen a “Premier Prix” with the highest honours:
Middle East Events, United Arab Emirates, 2014-09-02
« Lydie went on to study at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where she studied under the noted classical pianist Professor Jacques Rouvier. »
The National, Abu Dhabi, 2014-09-29
« The 32-year-old, who gave her first recital at a music festival at the age of 10, studied under the noted classical pianist Jacques Rouvier. »
At fifteen she was chosen by Paul Meyer and Eric Lesage to perform chamber music concerts, at sixteen she came to the attention of the conductor Myung-Whun Chung, between seventeen and nineteen she toured several times South Korea (Seoul, Daejeon) where she gave recitals (with a CD produced by Dichter Liebe Classics) and concerts with an orchestra under the conduction of Gum Nanse (with a TV and radio broadcast in Korea).
At eighteen Lydie started exploring other fields of experience.
After preparatory classes at the « lycée » Henri IV, Lydie was admitted at ESSEC business school, from which she graduated in 2006 with an MBA.
Lydie Solomon and the classical music world
Up to 2007, Lydie still played classical music in public, giving recitals (La Charité-sur-Loire, Silly, Madrid…) and chamber music concerts, in particular with renowned artists such as François-René Duchâble (Annecy and Biarritz), François Salque (La Chaise-Dieu) and Laure Favre-Kahn (Val d'Aulnay).
She then interrupted her pianist career during three years.
A full artist : pianist, actress, composer, singer
She discovered the movie scene, studying at the “Cours Florent” and being trained to the Actors Studio technique.
As an outcome she acted (under the Lydie Waï pseudo) as a pianist in an autobiographic role in Yvon Marciano's full length movie “Vivre !”, released on the screens in France in 2009 and in Russia in 2010.
From 2008 to 2010, Lydie (Waï) wrote and sung her own compositions, recorded in a CD (« Harmonie ») with an American, Argentinian and Brazilian rhythm section, and performed concerts as a singer.
Back to the piano: « Eldorado, from Padre Soler to Piazzolla »
Enriched by these complementary experiences, allowing her to broaden her understanding of the music environment, to develop a theatrical personality and a sense of communication, and to strengthen her artistic maturity, Lydie celebrates her comeback to the piano scene in 2011 with a recital at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, with « Eldorado, from Padre Soler to Piazzolla », published by Intrada. « Eldorado » was highlighted as « coup de coeur » by the journalist Alain Duault on RTL (2011-06-19) and was the subject of a presentation in the French TV program « C à vous » on France 5 (2014-03-07), and of articles in the French newspaper L'Est Républicain (2012-05-26) and the French magazine Jazz Hot (2013-01-06).
Since her album was released, Lydie Solomon has given more than 50 « Eldorado » recitals. In 2012, she toured Cuba. The tour was reported on Cuban TV channel Cuba Visión (2012-05-04) and Radio Habana Cuba (2012-04-30). Her « Eldorado » program was also a success during her September 2014 tour of Mexico, with both the audience and the media (Milenio, 2014-09-21; El Universal, 2014-09-22; Opus 94, Instituto Mexicano de la Radio, 2014-09-22).
« Romantic »
In the last quarter of 2012, Lydie performed a new program, « Romantic » (Bach, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Granados, Fauré…) in which she created her composition, Rhapsolydie (American Cathedral in Paris, Théâtre de l'Île Saint-Louis in Paris).
« From Chopin to Cuba »
In June-July 2013, Lydie Solomon unveiled her brand new program, « From Chopin to Cuba », which she performed 8 times in Paris («Play Me I'm Yours – Des pianos dans Paris» Festival, June-July 2013; Théâtre L'Archipel in Paris, 2013-07-09 and 10), but also later on again in Paris (Espace Georges Bernanos, 2014-01-24), then in Biarritz (Hôtel du Palais, 2014-06-15), in the French Pyrenees (Domaine de l'Eglantière, 2014-08-20), in Mexico (Museo Nacional de Arte, 2014-09-20). Lydie explores the influence Chopin had on Cuban music, through his friend Julian Fontana. Besides, Lydie Solomon unveiled in this program her new composition, « Invocation ». She was invited to talk about her program on Radio France Internationale (« La Bande Passante », 2013-07-30) and Radio Libertaire (« Les Jardins d'Orphée, 2013-07-13).
The « From Chopin to Cuba » CD release on June 30th, 2014 created curiosity among critics for its innovative content. Preannounced in « C à vous » on France 5 (2014-03-07) and in the French newspaper Sud Ouest (2014-06-11), it was covered in France by Radio Libertaire (« Les Jardins d'Orphée », 2014-06-28), L'Est Républicain (2014-07-01), ConcertoNet (2014-08-15), La Semaine des Pyrénées (2014-08-21 and 28), La Dépêche du Midi (2014-08-23), Radio Notre Dame (« Ecoute dans la nuit », 2014-09-12), but also the Institut Polonais in Paris (2014-06-30) and foreign media:
– in Mexico (El Universal, 2014-09-22; Opus 94, Instituto Mexicano de la Radio, 2014-09-22),
– in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Week, 2014-10-02; The National, 2014-10-13; « Breakfast Classics », Abu Dhabi Classic FM, 2014-10-13),
– in Poland (Tygodnik Płocki, 2015-01-13; Gazeta Wyborcza, 2015-01-30).
Back to the international scene
After her international concerts at an early age in Belgium (1992, 1994, 2004), South Korea (1999, 2000, 2001), Spain (2000, 2004), Lydie Solomon came back to the international scene with her « Eldorado » tour in Cuba (April-May 2012). Since 2014, she has played:
– in Belgium (Brussels: “From Chopin to Cuba” program, 2015-06-28; “Chopin: the conquest of Europe” program, 2015-10-17; “Goyescas, Hope” program, 2016-03-19)
– in Poland (« Chopin » program in Warsaw, 2014-05-25; concerto N°. 20 by Mozart in Płock, 2015-01-30; concerto by Schumann in Cracow, 2016-04-17)
– in Spain ( “From Chopin to Cuba” program in Valldemossa, 2016-05-29; “Chopin: the conquest of Europe” program in Palma, Majorca, 2016-05-30)
– in Mexico (« Eldorado » and « From Chopin to Cuba » programs in Mexico City, 2014-09-17 to 22; concerto in G by Ravel in Morelia, 2014-09-26)
– in the United Arab Emirates (« Chopin's Journey » program in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, 2014-10-14 and 15).
Lydie Solomon and television
Still passionate with acting, Lydie Solomon plays Sophia Kaplan, a gifted but naive young criminologist, in the French TV series Profilage (Season 4, episode 11, « Dans la Lumière »), which was broadcast on TF1, with a record 8 million viewers.
A unanimously acclaimed pianist
Wherever she performs, Lydie Solomon is acclaimed, firstly for her piano play. This can be observed in the French, Cuban, Mexican media, but also in:
- The National (Saeed Saeed), Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-15 (review of « Frédéric Chopin's Journey » recital, 2015-10-14, Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat):
« The Franco-Korean pianist played a stirring solo piano recital dedicated to the celebrated 19th century Polish composer, Frederic Chopin. »
« Her affinity with the material was genuine, particularly in her beautiful rendering of Prelude Op 28 No 4 as she delicately channelled the piece's exquisite longing. » - The National (Saeed Saeed), Abu Dhabi, 2015-01-08 (about « Frédéric Chopin's Journey » recital, 2015-10-14, Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat):
« … with her delightfully sensitive rendering of Chopin pieces at Al Manarat Saadiayat last October… » - Dziennik Płocki, Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« She played Mozart's concerto with an improbable feeling, perfectly picking out all its subtleties and expressing the author's thought. »
A feel for the scene
Lydie Solomon is also noticed for her impact on the audience:
- The National (Saeed Saeed), Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-15 (review of « Frédéric Chopin's Journey » recital, 2015-10-14, Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat):
« Solomon's performance capped a successful beginning to Abu Dhabi Classics. » - WAM – Emirates News Agency (Ahlam/Moran), United Arab Emirates, 2014-10-15 (review of « Frédéric Chopin's Journey » recital, 2015-10-14, Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat):
« A stunning piano recital from French prodigy Lydie Solomon opened the revitalised Abu Dhabi Classics 2014/2015 concert season last night, with the soloist receiving a standing ovation after her debut appearance in Arabia. »
« Playing to a full house at the Manarat Al Saadiyat Arts And Culture Centre on Saadiyat Island, the 32-year-old soloist led the audience through her concert dedicated to the travels of Polish composer, Frederic Chopin. »
« ‘Lydie's performance was a stunning start to the Classics season. The audience was treated to a masterful display of her ability.' said Dr. Perlwitz. » - Concierge Magazine, Abu Dhabi, 2015-02 (about « Frédéric Chopin's Journey » recital, 2015-10-14, Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat):
« From the season's opening night on October 14 last year with French pianist Lydie Solomon at Manarat Al Saadiyat to Jordi Savall's world premiere of a concert dedicated to the Islamic traveller Ibn Battuta in November, Abu Dhabi concerts are playing to record audiences. »
« Abu Dhabi Classics started on October 14 last year with a riveting piano recital dedicated to Chopin's travels by French prodigy Lydie Solomon at Manarat Al Saadiyat. » - Gazeta Wyborcza (Rita Góralska), Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« An extraordinary gold pianist seduced Płock's audience with Mozart. »
« A star delighted the audience with her talent, but also with her beauty. » - Portal Płock, Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« Ovation for French pianist. »
« Płock's music lovers thanked Lydie Solomon with a standing ovation for her magnificent performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's piano concerto. »
« Lydie Solomon played Mozart's concerto with grace, delicacy, embarking the audience into the most wonderful landscapes of musical feelings. »
« No doubt that nobody could feel indifferent to the artist's great class. » - Dziennik Płocki, Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« The great pianist was rewarded with a long lasting standing ovation. »
Lydie Solomon : a composer
Lydie Solomon's compositions are varied :
- Songs in a Latin/Jazz/Pop style, found in her « Harmonie » CD (Lydie Waï, 2009): « Little moon », « Mon voyage » (lyrics and music); « Invisible metamorphosis », « Don't pretend », « El efecto mariposa » (lyrics)
- Short piano classical pieces, found in her « Eldorado » CD (2011): « Perdido », « Prélude à la mélodie secrète »
- Long piano classical pieces: « Rhapsolydie » (2012, played in various concert places in Paris); « Invocation » (found in her « De Chopin à Cuba » CD, 2014).
Gazeta Wyborcza (Rita Góralska), Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« This Friday evening in the National School of Music's concert hall an artist stood out, who is at the same time an outstanding pianist, as well as an actress, a composer and a singer. »
Lydie Solomon : a singer
Following Chopin's advice (« One should sing to play the piano »), Lydie Solomon regularly includes songs in her repertoire: apart from the songs she composed (« Harmonie » CD, 2009), she sings songs from Spain, Latin America and Poland (Frédéric Chopin, Julian Fontana). Some of them can be listened to in her « De Chopin à Cuba » CD (2014):
– The National (Feargus O'Sullivan), Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-14 (interview with Lydie Solomon):
« … in which she sang as well as played piano. »
– Gazeta Wyborcza (Rita Góralska), Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« The remarkable pianist expressed her gratitude by singing a song by Chopin. »
« She created surprise with her Polish accent. »
– Portal Płock, Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« Lydie Solomon not only played Chopin's song on the piano, but also sung it. »
– Dziennik Płocki, Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« She answered with recognition with an encore which took everybody by surprise. She played and… sang Frederic Chopin's song, »
Lydie Solomon : an explorer
Lydie Solomon is always in search for newness, adventure, discoveries. As a « conquistador », her « Eldorado » project made her unveil jewels of Latin American music, hardly known to the West: from Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, Cuba…
With « De Chopin à Cuba », she put her fingers on the pivotal trio who made Chopin's music being transmitted to and absorbed by Cuban composers: Frédéric Chopin – Julian Fontana – Nicolás Ruiz Espadero.
For the opening of the 2014-2015 Abu Dhabi Classics season, she invented a program, « Frédéric Chopin's Journey », from Chopin's native Poland to his unfinished Mazurka (Op. 68, N°. 4), composed in his last Parisian dwelling, place Vendôme, all throughout Warsaw, Stuttgart, Dresden, Paris, Majorca, Nohant…:
- « Breakfast Classics » (Damian Watson), Abu Dhabi Classic FM, Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-13 (interview with Lydie Solomon):
« Now, Lydie is a world renowned pianist – I'm sure you know – who last year introduced a new program dedicated to – to me, at least – little known links between Chopin's music and that of various Cuban composers. We'll come on to this in a minute, it's called « De Chopin à Cuba » – « From Chopin to Cuba ». »
- The National (Feargus O'Sullivan), Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-14 (interview with Lydie Solomon):
« Solomon's close identification with Chopin's music could stem from the similarities between their lives. Both are constantly travelling musicians who are strikingly different from most of their contemporaries. »
« Solomon's last album explored the influence of Chopin on Cuban composers, music that is little-known internationally. »
- Khaleej Times (Silvia Radan), 2014-10-15 (review of « Frédéric Chopin's Journey » recital, 2015-10-14, Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat):
« Last night's Lydie Solomon's concert — Chopin's Journey — was especially created for Abu Dhabi by Solomon. »
- Gazeta Wyborcza (Rita Góralska), Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« This artist is fascinated by Chopin, whose works she established a link with Cuban music in her new project “From Chopin to Cuba”, which came out onto the recording of a CD. »
Lydie Solomon: a personality which doesn't leave oneself « indifferent »
Lydie's spiritual quest, which is upstream of her artistic path, drew the attention of the French media: Le Parisien/Aujourd'hui en France (« Lydie's Quest for Truth », 2011-12-24); the TV program « V.I.P. » on KTO (2013-04-27); the radio program « Ecoute dans la Nuit » on Radio Notre Dame (2012-06-05 and 2014-09-12).
Whether during interviews, in CDs, in concerts, Lydie Solomon's personality is highly visible:
- The National (Feargus O'Sullivan), Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-14 (interview with Lydie Solomon):
« Developing theatrically influenced performances – she has played at times with gold glitter in her hair – Solomon's slightly eccentric, highly personal style suggests that, even though she's already a seasoned performer, her life's work has probably only just begun. »
- The National (Saeed Saeed), Abu Dhabi, 2014-10-15 (review of « Frédéric Chopin's Journey » recital, 2015-10-14, Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat):
« She was a quiet yet intense figure, her pauses between movements found her often peering into some far away corner of the ceiling. »
- Gazeta Wyborcza (Rita Góralska), Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« Lydie Solomon is a woman who has really been through a rebirth. »
- Portal Płock, Poland, 2015-01-31 (review of concerto N°. 20 by Mozart, 2015-01-30, Płock, Poland):
« No doubt that nobody could feel indifferent to the artist's great class. »