Pianist Katia Labèque is one of the most acclaimed classical musicians of our day,whose breathtaking virtuosity and dazzling live performances have seen her garner respect in all the world. Her childhood was filled with music, her formal training being supplemented by lessons with her mother Ada Cecchi, a former student of Marguerite Long. Befitting her nonconformism, her repertory ranges from Bach to the present-day avant garde.
 
Together with her sister Marielle, she enjoys a stunning career throughout the world, playing with the most prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, LSO, Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Filarmonia della Scala, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Vienna Philharmonic. An impressive festival itinerary has taken her in Berlin, Blossom, the Hollywood Bowl, Lucerne, the Proms, Ravinia, Tanglewood, the Salzburg Easter. For more information please visit www.labeque.com or www.fondazionekml.com
 
In addition to the duet with her sister, in 2001 Katia formed an new exciting duo, with violonist Viktoria Mullova which has enjoyed international acclaim since its inception, appearing regularly throughout Europe at prestigious halls and festivals such as Carnegie Hall New York, the Musikverein in Vienna, Musikhalle Hamburg, Philharmonie Munich, Lucerne, Belgrade, Athens, Roma, Milano, Firenze, London Queen Elysabeth Hall etc.. They have released an album, ´Recital´ (KML 1110/Onyx 4015), featuring works by Schubert, Ravel, and Stravinsky. For further information: www.kmlrecordings.com
 
Katia´s enthusiasm for new music led to her becoming a member of John Mc Laughlin´s group, touring worldwide with his band in the eighties. Miles Davis dedicated two songs to her on his 1985 album You’re Under Arrest (‘Katia Prelude’ and ‘Katia’). Later on, she collaborated with Dave Maric and Marque Gilmore creating ´the Katia Labeque Band´. They toured in Europe and their tour in UK ended up at Festival Hall in London for the London Jazz Festival.Their album ´Unspoken´ is released on KML recordings.
 
She has now embarked on a new project´B FOR BANG´(KML 2120 and KML 1115) featuring Beatles music. They have been touring in Europe playing in Ruhr, Ravello, Montpellier, Bremen Festivals, Ferrara Musica, Torino Teatro Reggio, ´Ellas Crean´ in Madrid and Centro Miguel Delibes in Valladolid.
 
Her solo album ´Shape Of My Heart´ brings together her collaborations with Sting, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and David Chalmin alongside brand new recordings of the music of Satie, Chopin, Beatles and Radiohead. (KML 2119)
 
Katia has created her own label with her sister Marielle, KML recordings. to reflect their aspiration to build a bridge crossing all aspects of contemporary creation.
 
She is currently working on a new project ‘The minimalist Dream House” inspired by the early 1961 concerts curated by La Monte Young at Yoko Ono’s downtown New York loft. Katia and Marielle Labèque and an assortment of friends from the alternative rock and classical worlds come together to celebrate this revolutionary new movement and its many waves of influence.(www.labeque.com))
 
Photo credit: Brigitte Lacombe