Stefan Cassar
piano
Stefan Cassar, a pianist of Maltese origin living in France since 1989, is a graduate of the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris where he studied with professor Germaine Mounier, of the Lyon Conservatoire, and also of the Royal Schools of Music in London. He studied under renowned masters including Helena Czerny Stefanska and Valery Affanassiev. He also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, as a scholarship student under the guidance of Sergio Perticaroli.
The press and media have acclaimed his playing on numerous occasions; Germany’s Leipziger Volkszeitung describes the public’s enthusiasm for Cassar’s great artistic style in these words : «Lyoner Pianist begeistert mit grosser Klavierkunst». In a article entitled: “Stefan Cassar émerveille son public”, La Provence says of his playing : ”brilliant … A miraculous performance”. Le Progres: ”a celebrated pianist on the international music scene and an ambassador of the city of Lyon”.
Stefan Cassar performs regularly in various cities in France and elsewhere in Europe such as Paris, Lyon, Brussels, Monte-Carlo, Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Bern, Basel, Sofia.
He has been invited in countries such as Thailand to perform in Bangkok, Hua-Hin and Chiangmai, but also as member of the jury panel for the first edition of the “Thailand Chopin International Piano Competition”, taking place in Bangkok. In Asia he was invited to perform in the 11th international music festival in Phnom Penh in Cambodia. He has performed in the United States in Washington DC, in Chicago at the Chicago Pianoforte Hall on Michigan Avenue, and in New York in a recital organized by the French contemporary artist JR.
He has been engaged for concerts in various venues in Paris and other major cities in France. In the more intimate atmosphere of concerts organized by art galleries, museums including the Beaux-Arts de Lyon and the Musée d’Art et Histoire du Judaisme de Paris, as well as private concerts for fashion and other prestigious luxury names representing the French “art de vivre”. The first of a long series started in Monte-Carlo at the famous Thermes Marins. Cassar’s successful performance was observed by the French press including the famous weekly review Paris Match.
Playing regularly in various chamber music ensembles he has performed with artists including the French viola virtuoso Gérard Caussé, the Ludwig String Quartet, French violoncellist Dominique de Williencourt, Russian violinist Vadim Tchijk, soloists from the Orchestre National de France, and of the Orchestre National de Lyon, etc. He has also collaborated with the Italian ballet dancer Francesca Ziviani and the French actor Francois Marthouret.
Stefan Cassar has been artistic director of various music festivals all over France including “Les Nocturnes de Carpentras” in Provence and “Un Piano à Collonges” close to Lyon.
In 2001 he founded two festivals of which he still is the music director, the “Un Piano en Hiver” chamber music festival (taking place over the Christmas season) and “Les Moments Musicaux” (taking place in August); both held in the paradisiaque Belle-isle-en mer, an island off the west coast of France.
Stefan Cassar is regularly invited to give master-classes around France. Every July, he travels to the south of France where, he has been organizing and directing a summer piano academy on the French Riviera.
In January 2016, Stefan Cassar was invited by Paolo Fazioli to inaugurate with a world premiere recital at the Gallifet Palace, Paris, the prestigious Fazioli new concert piano grand “Aria” with a recital including works of Liszt, Beethoven and Ravel.
