Flaurent Heau

Florent Héau studied at the Paris Conservatory (CNSM de Paris) in Michel Arrignon’s class. After having received several First Prizes between 1991 and 1995 in international competitions, Florent Héau has quickly established himself as one of the most important figures of the
French clarinet school; a brilliant tradition he himself relentlessly perpetuates worldwide, by both giving concerts and master-classes.

Florent Héau has contributed to several premieres such as “Chant des Ténèbres” (concerto for clarinet and orchestra) by Thierry Escaich, “Aizgor” by Félix Ibarrondo, “Sonatina lapidaria” by Nicolas Bacri and “Encore” de Karol Beffa. In 2011, he premiered Philippe Hersant’s
clarinet concerto with the Orchestre de Bretagne.

Regularly invited to various festivals (Deauville Folles Journées de Nantes, Bel-Air in Chambery, Orangerie de Sceaux, Auvers-sur-Oise), Florent Héau continues to expand his circle of chamber music partners, including Marielle Nordmann, Marcela Roggeri, Gerard Causse, Jérôme Pernoo, Henri Demarquette, Jérôme Ducros, Régis Pasquier, Patrice Fontanarosa, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon and the Prazak, Manfred, Ysaÿe, Parisii and Voce quartets.

He has appeared as a soloist with the European Camerata, the Orchestre de Bretagne, the Orchestre de Picardie, the Orchestre de la Basse- Normandie, the Orchestre de Nancy, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, the Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra and the Prague Chamber Orchestra, to name a few.

In addition to being an exceptional musician, Florent Héau is also a skilled showman, whose multiple talents are revealed through
performances with “Bons Becs” a musical theatre ensemble with whom he not only plays the clarinet and the ‘musical saw’, but also tap dances.

Over the years, he has enjoyed continuous success with his recordings of various programs, including Sonatas by Brahms and Reger (with Patrick Zygmanowski), the Trios of Beethoven (with Jérôme Ducros and Henri Demarquette), pieces for clarinet and strings by Nicolas Bacri, the chamber works of Mozart (with Manfred Quartet) and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, Guastavino and Piazzolla (with Marcela Roggeri). His most recent recording with Pernoo, Ducros and the Voce quartet is dedicated to Brahms (trio and quintet).

A renowned teacher, Florent Héau is clarinet professor at the Paris CRR and Lausanne HEMU, and guest professor at the Osaka College of Music in Japan and Shanghai Conservatory of music in China. He is regularly invited to teach in many countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia.