Violaine Cochard
Harpsichord
First-prize winner in the International Harpsichord Competition in Montreal in June 1999, Violaine Cochard worked with
the finest teachers to develop a personal and inventive style. In 1991 she was awarded a first prize at the Conservatoire
(CNR) in Angers, where she studied with Françoise Marmin, and entered the classes of Christophe Rousset and Kenneth
Gilbert at the Paris Conservatoire (CNSM). Three years later she graduated with three first prizes – for continuo and
harpsichord – awarded unanimously by the jury. She continued her training with Pierre Hantaï and Christophe Rousset
(advanced course at the CNSM in Paris).
An inspired continuo player, a fine soloist, a teacher for three years (1999-2002) at the Conservatoire (CNR) in Montpellier,
Violaine Cochard devotes much of her time to chamber music, working regularly with various ensembles, including the
Ricercar Consort (Philippe Pierlot), Il Seminario Musicale (Gérard Lesne), Les Paladins (Jérôme Corréas) and, of course,
Amarillis, playing continuo or solo. She also plays continuo for operatic productions by Les Talens Lyriques (Christophe
Rousset) and Le Concert d'Astrée (Emmanuelle Haïm). Violaine Cochard gives recitals and chamber concerts at festivals in
France, elsewhere in Europe, and in Latin America (Cité de la Musique in Paris, La Chaise-Dieu, Nantes, Ambronay,
Beaune, Montreux, Utrecht, Pisa…). She is also heard on France Musique and has been invited to take part in broadcasts for
the BBC.
She records with Amarillis for the Ambroisie label. Other recordings include Les quatre saisons by Boismortier with Les
Festes Vénitiennes (K617), the symphonies of Pugnani with Academia Montis Regalis (Opus 111), Persée by Lully with Les
Talens Lyriques (Naïve), Apollo e Dafne by Handel with Les Paladins (Arion), and Dido and Aeneas by Purcell with Le
Concert d'Astrée (Naïve)…
Violaine Cochard recorded two solo CDs of François Couperin' music in 2005 and in 2008 for the label Ambroisie. Her next
solo recording, on Johann Sebastian Bach' music is available since novembre 2011 for the label Agogique.