A Call for Connection

Virtuoso pianist and Rolex Testimonee Hélène Grimaud masterfully bridges the worlds of art and advocacy, using her evocative performances and commitment to conservation to inspire a deeper connection between humanity and the natural world

- By Nafeesa Saini

At 55, French classical pianist Hélène Grimaud’s creative verve shows no signs of slowing down. She returned to Singapore in October last year for a concert with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and Austrian maestro Hans Graf, performing Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major. The occasion marked a full-circle moment for Grimaud: her last visit and performance with the SSO in 2015 also featured the same concerto, under the baton of American conductor John Nelson. “When the idea to reconnect with the SSO came up and I learnt that the request was for Ravel, I was very happy. I remembered performing it here and enjoying it a lot,” she says.

Often hailed as a Renaissance woman for her multifaceted identity, Grimaud is not only a celebrated musician, but also a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation. Speaking to the media during a roundtable session, the piano virtuoso opens up about her artistry, her achievements, and how her collaboration with Rolex aligns with her values of precision and conservation.

Grimaud, who considers herself a late bloomer when it comes to her musical journey (she discovered the piano when she was seven), shares that her passion for music was an “instant” revelation. “I knew I loved it, and [that a pianist] is what I wanted to [be],” recalls the self-described loner. Her ascent was similarly rapid—and remarkable—fuelled by what she describes as “fire”, or an innate curiosity and motivation. She was accepted into the prestigious Paris Conservatoire at just 13 and won first prize in a piano performance a mere three years later. Mentored by renowned pianists György Sándor and Leon Fleisher, she made her debut recital in Tokyo in 1987 to critical acclaim. That same year, celebrated conductor Daniel Barenboim invited her to perform with the Orchestre de Paris, a moment that launched her international career.