Mara Dobresco

Romanian pianist Mara Dobresco was noticed by the concert-going public and media early on for her playing, which is full of character, and for the finesse and elegance of her phrasing. A child prodigy, she first performed with an orchestra at age eleven.

Mara Dobresco graduated from the George Enesco music academy in Bucharest, the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris and the Geneva Conservatory. She received the advice and support of Martha Argerich and Dominique Merlet, as well as Jean-Claude Pennetier and Pierre-Laurent Aimard, with whom she has performed four-hand repertoire.

The winner of numerous international competitions, she received scholarships from the Yamaha, Meyer, Tarazzi and Nadia and Lili Boulanger foundations.

Her many recordings have been lauded by the press, who have compared her to Argerich and Arrau. Dobresco has given recitals in Europe, Russia, North and South America, Asia and Australia in the most prestigious venues as well as international festivals.

She has also made recordings for Radio France, Swiss Radio, and Romanian national radio and television. She was invited by film director Radu Mihaileanu to record the soundtrack for his film The Concert (2009) featuring Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21.

A fervent interpreter of contemporary repertoire, she collaborates regularly with numerous composers including Philippe Hersant, Franck Villard or Oscar Strasnoy, who has dedicated several of his pieces to her. Mara Dobresco is also interested in the dramaturgy of musical gesture, and has participated in multiple projects based on the intersection between theater, literature and music. She is a member of Quatuor Face à Face (2 pianists, 2 percussionists), founded 10 years ago, which gives concerts in many of the world's largest concert halls, characterized by great virtuosity, a strong identity and a spectacular stage presence.