Pianomania: Laurent de Wilde and guests in Paris

Is the piano the master of all instruments? Whether you like the saxophone, trumpet, double bass, or drums, having an entire orchestra at your fingertips (with its harmonics, octaves, and musical resources) is no simple feat. Audiences have always been well aware of the complexity of the piano, and continue to be moved by the keyboard virtuosity of Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Erroll Garner, and Thelonious Monk, all of whom were once happy to call themselves Parisians.

How about a festival to recapture this black and white magic? Paris—despite already being the remarkable birthplace of piano makers and an influential school for generations of virtuosos—was still looking for an opportunity to celebrate the famous 88 ivory keys. In 2019, the first edition of the Pianomania festival filled that gap. After a short COVID-induced pause, this second edition is taking over some of the capital's most emblematic venues: the Salle Pleyel, the Théâtre Marigny, the Théâtre de l'Athénée, and the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord.

Laurent de Wilde invites no fewer than 12 pianists to perform on the Bouffes du Nord stage this year. The line-up includes personalities as diverse as Édouard Ferlet, Leïla Olivesi, Cheick Tidiane Seck, and Bernard Lubat, with a 176-key finale featuring a face-off between host Laurent de Wilde and Congolese pianist Ray Lema. Whether audiences are here to discover new artists or hear cherished favorites shine, Pianomania is a brilliant display of what's possible on the piano, verging even towards what some might consider impossible.