Martha Argerich invited which 12 year old French pianist to perform at the Pacific Music Festival in Japan marking the beginning of his career?
François-Xavier Poizat François-Xavier Poizat is a French pianist. Born 18 August 1989 in Grenoble with Swiss, French and Chinese origins, Poizat grew up with the learning from the Russian masters Alexeï Golovine and Evgeni Koroliov, as well as the Argentinian pianists Nelson Goerner and Martha Argerich. It is Martha Argerich who propelled him on the international stage by inviting him when he was 12 years old to the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, recognizing his ‘’deep lyricism and remarkable virtuosity’’. This marked the beginning of a career that has brought him to perform in already 22 countries in Europe and Asia. He currently lives in New York City and studies at The Juilliard School with Matti Raekallio.
Gilles Apap Gilles Apap (born 21 May 1963) is a French classical violinist. Born in Béjaïa, Algeria, he was raised in Nice, France. In 1985 he won first prize in the contemporary music category at the Yehudi Menuhin Competition. He served as concertmaster with the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra for 10 years, but has since focused on his career as a soloist with orchestras around the world.