Hailed by Guitar Salon International as “one of the most exciting classical guitarists of his generation,” Raphaël Feuillâtre makes his instrument sing with a rare blend of clarity and grace. The twenty-six-year-old French classical guitarist, whose repertoire embraces everything from Johann Sebastian Bach and Rameau to contemporary compositions by Roland Dyens and Sérgio Assad, possesses the technical mastery and creative vision required to make works from all periods sound as if they were written yesterday – alive, heartfelt, filled with colour. Critics have praised the versatility and sensitivity of Feuillâtre’s musicianship. He has also delighted reviewers and audiences alike with the singing quality of his playing. The jaw-dropping precision of his technique is allied to a profound feeling for melodic line, qualities that combine to give the impression that the instrument’s sound is somehow sustained by the player’s breath.
Born in 1996, Feuillâtre began classical guitar lessons at the age of nine with Hacène Addadi at Cholet Conservatory. In 2012, he entered Michel Grizard’s class at the Conservatory of Nantes and, three years later, he was accepted to Paris National Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance (CNSMDP) into the class of Roland Dyens where he obtained his Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2017 with highest honors, and then went on to complete his master’s in classical guitar performance with Tristan Manoukian.
Feuillâtre made his international breakthrough in 2018 as winner of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Concert Artist Competition. He was already known as a rising star in Europe following his victory at the 2017 José Tomás Villa de Petrer International Guitar Competition in Valencia and earlier prize-winning competition performances elsewhere in Spain as well as in France, Portugal and the Czech Republic. His progress around the competition circuit introduced him to many outstanding players and teachers; his José Tomás and GFA prizes, meanwhile, included opportunities for him to record solo recital albums under studio conditions and embark on concert tours of Europe, Brazil, Argentina, the United States and Canada. His career was given a further boost when he was honored by being selected as one of French performing rights association ADAMI’s “classical discoveries” of 2021.
As a result of his 2018 win of classical guitar’s most prestigious competition, Guitar Foundation of America (GFA), Raphaël recorded his second opus for the Naxos Label (2019) and embarked on a seven-month tour of North America. During his tour, he presented solo concerts, conducted masterclasses and outreach activities in over twenty-five cities across the United States and Canada. Prior to his 2018 GFA win, Raphaël Feuillâtre participated in various other international guitar competitions obtaining several major awards. In 2017, he won first prize in the International Guitar Competition Jose Tomas – Villa Petrer in Spain which awarded him the opportunity to record his first album with JSM Guitar Records in 2018 (Bach, Granados, Tansman, Assad, Dyens). In 2015, Raphaël won first prize in the Concours & Festival de guitare de Fontenay sous Bois (France). He is also a laureate of Festival International de Guitarra Ciudad de Coria in Coria, Spain and Festival Internacional de Musica da Primavera de Viseu in Viseu, Portugal.
Raphaël Feuillâtre has appeared at classical guitar festivals and venues including the International Guitar Festival, Budapest, Hungary; Festival of Guitar, Ciutat d’Elx, Spain; Guitar Art Festival, Belgrade, Serbia; International Guitar Festival Jose Tomas – Villa Petrer, Spain; UPF Guitar Festival, Brazil as well as festivals and venues in Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Holland, Montenegro and Argentina. In France he is regularly invited to perform chamber music with the Orchestral Ensemble of Pau (France) at the Folle Journée de Nantes Festival and as a soloist at guitar festivals and venues, among them the Paris International Guitar Festival, Sul Tasto Festival, Festival de Baume-les-Messieurs and Guitars in Picardy Festival. In 2019 he had residencies at 6 Cordes au Fil de l’Allier Festival and Guitare en France.
With continued success after his GFA tour, Feuillâtre has been invited to perform and teach throughout the world. Each summer since 2020, he has held a teaching and performing residency at the esteemed Carlton Summer Academy (France). He was a headlining concert artist in several international guitar festivals, including University of Rhode Island’s Virtual Guitar Festival and Competition, 2020 (USA); 6th Puy-l’Eveque International Festival of Guitar, 2022 (France); 15th International Classical Guitar Festival of Citta di Lodi, 2022 (Italy).
Most recently, in September 2022, Feuillâtre signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Deutsche Grammophon (DG), the most esteemed labels in the world, and named Label of the Year in 2021 by Grammophon. Deutsche Grammophon’s Senior Director Classical, Artists & Repertoire, Angelika Meissner, discovered Raphael, and was so impressed by his charismatic artistry that she invited him to record for the Yellow Label. He released one recording with DG in September 2022, and his full-length debut album (2023) will feature arrangements and transcriptions of works by Bach, Rameau and others, reflecting his profound affinity for Baroque music. He will also embark on a promotional tour sponsored by Deutche Grammonphon in September 2023, which will be his third studio album to date.
Raphael is an endorsee of Savarez guitar strings, one of the world’s leading string manufacturers (founded in 1770).
73 Avenue du Capitaine Glarner
93400 Saunt Ouen
Paris, France
raphael.feuillatre.abd@gmail.com
5, Avenue Barthélémy Thimonnier
BP 133 - 69643 Caluire et Cuire
Cedex - France
Tel: (+33) 4 37 40 32 00
www.savarez.com/rapha%C3%ABl-feuillatre