Lluís Claret

Lluís Claret was born in 1951 in Andorra where he began his musical education at the age of 9. In 1964 he moved to Barcelona, won major distinctions at the Conservatory of the Liceu, and began working with Enric Casals, Pablo Casals’ brother. Though not a cellist himself, Enric became for many years Mr. Claret’s principal tutor. Mr. Claret continued his studies in France with Maurice Gendron, in Italy with Radu Aldulescu, and in the USA with Eva Janzer, György Sebök and Bernard Greenhouse.

After Mr. Claret won first prizes at a number of prestigious international competitions, Bologna in 1975, Pablo Casals in 1976, and Mstislav Rostropovich in 1977, he was invited to be a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, Orchestre National, Orchestra France, English Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica and Czech Philharmonic, and performed under the batons of Pierre Boulez, Karl Münchinger, Dmitri Kitaienko, Witold Lutoslawski, George Malcolm, Václav Neumann and Mstislav Rostropovich.

Throughout his career he has been especially committed to chamber music. He is a founding member of the Trio de Barcelona and frequently collaborates with well-known musicians. Mr. Claret has long felt a particular responsibility toward young performers. He teaches at music schools and conservatories in Andorra, Barcelona, Toulouse and Bologna and at the international music festivals of Vic, Banff, and the Académie Ravel. Every spring he supervises activities for the festival at Sant Miquel de Cuixà, in Prades, France. He also regularly participates in the juries of major international competitions, including Rostropovich/Paris, Leonard Rose/Washington, D.C., Paulo/Helsinki, and Trapani/Sicily.

His repertoire extends from Bach to contemporary composers, and includes first performances and works especially dedicated to him by Dutilleux, Lutoslawski, Boulez, Xenakis, Ducol, Bleuse, Guinjoan and Charles.

Mr. Claret records with the Harmonia Munid and Auvidis labels.