About

Pierre Bibault is a versatile classical and electric guitarist, recognized for his virtuosity, innovative interpretation, and dedication to contemporary music. Trained as a classical musician, he is both a soloist, chamber musician, and researcher, specializing in the most demanding and avant-garde repertoires.

Throughout his career, Pierre Bibault has performed in over 25 countries, playing in iconic venues such as Radio France, the Philharmonie de Paris, Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Wigmore Hall in London, Prinzregententheater in Munich, Flagey in Brussels, Salle Bourgie in Montreal, De Bijloke in Ghent, Seiji Ozawa Hall in Tanglewood, and the Fondation Maeght, among many others.

As a soloist, Pierre Bibault explores a unique sonic universe where the guitar meets new technologies. He offers varied programs, ranging from written music to improvisations, often enriched with electronic installations and real-time sound transformations. Among his notable projects are Sequences (a re-exploration of Luciano Berio’s Sequenza XI, recently recorded on video and to be released in autumn 2024), Creations (commissions of new works), Bibault meets Moultaka (a collaboration with composer Zad Moultaka), Mirrors (highlighting works by Murail, Romitelli, and Dufourt), and The Steve Reich Guitar Project.

This last project made a strong impact in 2021 with the release of the complete works for electric guitar by Steve Reich. Endorsed by the composer himself, the album was praised by the press and has reached over 200,000 streams. Pierre Bibault’s rendition of Nagoya Guitars was included in the official Essential Steve Reich playlist, while his version of Electric Counterpoint was voted “best version” by listeners of the Tribune des Internautes on France Musique in February 2024.

In July 2024, he collaborated with choreographers Gerard & Kelly at the Fondation Maeght in a project that fused music and dance, featuring works by Steve Reich, Luciano Berio, and Isaac Albéniz.

That same month, he was invited to the prestigious Tanglewood Festival for the Contemporary Music Festival week, under the auspices of the Tanglewood Music Center, where he shared his innovative approach to contemporary guitar with an international audience.

Alongside his solo projects, Pierre Bibault has collaborated with many prestigious ensembles and orchestras, including Klangforum Wien, Ensemble 2E2M, InSoliTus, Sound Icon (Boston), Uproar (Wales), and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.  

Starting in 2018, he has been regularly invited by the Ensemble Intercontemporain, collaborating with composers such as Olga Neuwirth, Rebecca Saunders, James Dillon, and Helmut Lachenmann. He has performed a repertoire ranging from Frank Zappa’s psychedelic rock to film music, such as Die Stadt ohne Juden by Olga Neuwirth, recorded for Arte/ZDF. In 2019, he was the soloist for the French premiere of Hans Werner Henze’s guitar concerto Ode an Eine Äolsharfe at the Philharmonie de Paris, under the direction of Brad Lubman.  

Since 2017, Pierre Bibault has collaborated with Ensemble Variances, led by Thierry Pécou, exploring contemporary themes such as sustainable development. With the Ensemble, he released the recording Humain non Humain, featuring works by François-Bernard Mâche, Thierry Pécou, and Jeffrey Holmes.

Pierre Bibault is also active as a composer, with projects such as EaLC (Electroacoustic Live Composition) and Still HI (a collaboration between Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence), as well as an upcoming album titled Metal, which revisits his early musical influences.

Since 2016, he has been the Artistic Director of the Festival International de Guitare en Béarn. Currently based in Boston, he dedicates himself to his artistic career while regularly giving masterclasses and lectures worldwide.

He holds a Ph.D. in Arts with a dissertation on Gesture in Zad Moultaka’s music for solo guitar, as well as three Master’s degrees in Performance, Musicology, and Pedagogy.

Pierre Bibault est un guitariste classique et électrique aux multiples facettes, reconnu pour sa virtuosité, son interprétation innovante et son engagement dans la musique contemporaine. Musicien de formation classique, il est à la fois soliste, chambriste et chercheur, spécialisé dans les répertoires les plus exigeants et avant-gardistes.

Au cours de sa carrière, Pierre Bibault a joué dans plus de 25 pays, se produisant dans des lieux emblématiques tels que Radio France, la Philharmonie de Paris, le Walt Disney Hall de Los Angeles, le Musikverein de Vienne, l’Elbphilharmonie de Hambourg, le Wigmore Hall de Londres, le Prinzregententheater de Munich, Flagey à Bruxelles, la Salle Bourgie à Montréal, De Bijloke à Gand, le Seiji Ozawa Hall de Tanglewood, et la Fondation Maeght, parmi bien d’autres.

En tant que soliste, Pierre Bibault explore un univers sonore unique où la guitare rencontre les nouvelles technologies. Il propose des programmes variés, allant de la musique écrite aux improvisations, souvent enrichis par des installations électroniques et des transformations sonores en temps réel. Parmi ses projets notables, on peut citer Sequences (ré-exploration de la Sequenza XI de Luciano Berio, qu’il a récemment enregistrée en vidéo, à paraître à l’automne 2024), Creations (commandes d’œuvres nouvelles), Bibault meets Moultaka (collaboration avec le compositeur Zad Moultaka), Mirrors (mettant en lumière des œuvres de Murail, Romitelli et Dufourt), ainsi que le Steve Reich Guitar Project.

Ce dernier projet a marqué les esprits en 2021 avec la parution de l’intégrale des œuvres pour guitare électrique de Steve Reich. Validé par le compositeur lui-même, cet album a été salué par la presse et a atteint plus de 200 000 lectures sur les plateformes de streaming. La version de Nagoya Guitars interprétée par Pierre Bibault a été intégrée à la playlist officielle Essential Steve Reich, tandis que sa version de Electric Counterpoint a été élue “meilleure version” par les auditeurs de la Tribune des Internautes sur France Musique en février 2024.

En juillet 2024, il a collaboré avec les chorégraphes Gerard & Kelly, à la Fondation Maeght, dans un projet qui a fusionné musique et danse, autour d’œuvres de Steve Reich, Luciano Berio et Isaac Albéniz.

Le même mois, il a été invité au prestigieux Festival de Tanglewood pour la semaine du Festival de Musique Contemporaine, sous l’égide du Tanglewood Music Center, où il a partagé son approche novatrice de la guitare contemporaine avec un public international.

Parallèlement à ses projets solos, Pierre Bibault a collaboré avec de nombreux ensembles et orchestres prestigieux, dont le Klangforum Wien, l’Ensemble 2E2M, InSoliTus, Sound Icon (Boston), Uproar (Pays de Galles), et l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.

À partir de 2018, il a été régulièrement invité par l’Ensemble Intercontemporain, collaborant avec des compositeurs tels qu’Olga Neuwirth, Rebecca Saunders, James Dillon et Helmut Lachenmann. Il a interprété un répertoire allant du rock psychédélique de Frank Zappa à la musique de film, comme Die Stadt ohne Juden d’Olga Neuwirth, enregistré pour Arte/ZDF. En 2019, il a été soliste pour la création française du concerto pour guitare Ode an Eine Äolsharfe de Hans Werner Henze à la Philharmonie de Paris, sous la direction de Brad Lubman.

Depuis 2017, Pierre Bibault collabore avec l’Ensemble Variances de Thierry Pécou, explorant des thématiques contemporaines comme le développement durable. Avec l’Ensemble, il a sorti l’enregistrement Humain non Humain, incluant des œuvres de François-Bernard Mâche, Thierry Pécou et Jeffrey Holmes.

Pierre Bibault est aussi actif en tant que compositeur, avec des projets tels que EaLC (Electroacoustic Live Composition) et Still HI (collaboration entre l’Intelligence Humaine et l’Intelligence Artificielle), ainsi qu’un album en préparation intitulé Metal, qui revient sur ses premières influences musicales.

Depuis 2016, il est Directeur Artistique du Festival International de Guitare en Béarn. Actuellement basé à Boston, il se consacre à sa carrière artistique, tout en donnant régulièrement des masterclasses et des conférences à travers le monde.

Titulaire d’un Ph.D. en Arts et d’une thèse sur le Geste dans la musique pour guitare solo de Zad Moultaka, Pierre Bibault possède également trois Masters en Performance, Musicologie et Pédagogie.

Electric Guitar: (e.g.) | Classical Guitar: (c.g.) | Bass Guitar: (e.bass g.)

BERIO Luciano
Sequenza XI
per chitarra sola (c.g.)

D’ANGELO Nuccio
Due Canzoni Lidie (c.g.)

DUFOURT Hugues
La Cité des Saules, for electric guitar and sound transformation (e.g.)

HOLMES Jeffrey
Jörmunr (c.g.)
dedicated to Pierre Bibault

MOULTAKA Zad
Calvario, for guitar and electronics (c.g.)
Kahraba, for electric guitar and electroacoustics (e.g.), commissioned by Pierre Bibault and Onoma
Ordo ab chao, for guitar and electronics (c.g.), dedicated to Pierre Bibault

MURAIL Tristan
Tellur (c.g.)
Vampyr! (e.g.)

OHANA Maurice
Tiento (c.g.)

PECOU Thierry
Flux, Eclats, Orient (c.g.)
Passacaille (c.g.), dedicated to Pierre Bibault

REICH Steve
Electric Counterpoint (e.g. + tape)
Electric Guitar Phase (e.g. + tape)
Nagoya Guitars (e.g. + tape)
Clapping Music

ROMITELLI Fausto
Solare (c.g.)
Trash TV Trance, for electric guitar, effects and sampler (e.g.)

ANDRIESSEN Louis
Life (e.g.)

BENJAMIN Georges
Sometimes Voices (banjo)

BRANCA Glenn
Symphony n°16 “Orgasm”, for 100 electric guitars (e.g.)

BRAUD Augustin
Cornucopia (e.g.)

BRAXTON Tyondai
Fly by Wire (e.g.)

CAGE John
Once Upon a Time (e.g.)

CHASALOW Eric
Muriel’s Songs (e.g. + c.g.)

CHOI Yeni
On the boat (c.g.)

DAZZI Gualtiero
Madrigali (e.g.)

DILLON James
Tanz / Haus Triptych (e.g.)

GLASS Philip
Façades (e.g.)
Music in Similar Motion (e.g.)

HENZE Hans Werner
Ode An Eine Äolsharfe (concerto), music for concertante Guitar (c.g.) and 15 solo instruments (French Premiere with Ensemble Intercontemporain, December 2019)

HOLMES Jeffrey
Kaun (Kenaz) (c.g.) (World Premiere with Ensemble Variances, 2022)

KORDA Josephine
Mycelium (c.g.)

LACHENMANN Helmut
Concertini (c.g.)

LEWIS Andrew
Canzon in Double Echo (e.g.)

LEWIS George
float, sting (e.g.)

MÂCHE François-Bernard
Vigiles (c.g.) (World Premiere with Ensemble Variances)

MARINISSEN Arnold
Métisse (e.g.) (World Premiere with Ensemble Variances)

MERCANTI Gabriele
Clepsamia (c.g.)

MONDON Nicolas
Daily Colotomy (c.g.)

MORGAN-WILLIAMS Bethan
Devil’s Elbow (e.g.)

MOULTAKA Zad
Anath (c.g.)

NEUWIRTH Olga
Die Stadt Ohne Juden (e.g.) (World Premiere with Ensemble Intercontemporain)
Hommage à Klaus Nomi (e.g.)
Le Encantadas (e.g.)
The Outcast (e.g.) (French Premiere with Ensemble Intercontemporain)
– Eleanor (concerto), for Blues Singer, Drum-kit, Electric Guitar and Ensemble (e.g.)

PECOU Thierry
– Méditation sur la fin de l’espèce (e.g.) (World Premiere with Ensemble Variances)
– Until the Lions (e.g.)
– Byar (e.bass g.)

REICH Steve
Pulse (e.bass g.)

RIHM Wolfgang
Jagden und Formen (c.g + e.bass g.)

ROMITELLI Fausto
– Professor Bad Trip, Lesson I (e.g.)
– Professor Bad Trip, Lesson III (e.g.)
– Audiodrome, Dead City Radio (e.g.)

SAARIAHO Kaija
– Tempest Songbook (c.g.)

SAUNDERS Rebecca
– Scar (World Premiere with EIC, 2019) (e.g.)
– Wound (World Premiere with EIC, 2022 | Austrian Premiere with Klangforum Wien, 2023) (e.g.) 

STOCKHAUSEN Karlheinz
Aus den sieben Tagen (e.g.)
Tierkreis (e.g.)

 ZAPPA Frank
Get Whitey (c.g.)
G-Spot Tornado (e.g.)
The Dog Breath Variations (banjo)

Chamber Music

BOWMAN Max
Sonata, for classical guitar (c.g.) and cello

CAGE John
Story (Once upon a time)

CRUMB Georges
Mundus Canis, for (c.g.) and percussions

GINASTERA Alberto
Suite de Danzas Criollas, Op. 15

HOLMES Jeffrey
Danzleikr Sonata, dedicated to Duo Resonances

LACHENMANN Helmut
Salut für Caudwell for two guitarists (c.g.)

MÂCHE François-Bernard
Vigiles (c.g.) (World Premiere with Ensemble Variances)

MARINISSEN Arnold
– Mestre Claudinei, for (c.g.) and cello

MENDOZA Elena
Lo que nunca dijo nadie, for (c.g.) and violin (c.g.)

PIERRE-PETIT
Toccata

STOCKHAUSEN Karlheinz
Aus den sieben Tagen (e.g.)
Tierkreis (e.g.)

TAKEMITSU Toru
Toward the sea, for classical guitar and flute (c.g.)

Projects

I cultivate a diverse portfolio within Contemporary Music, spanning four key areas. My solo projects showcase explorative interpretations of diverse contemporary composers, while my compositions venture reveal a keen ability to innovate. Collaborations with Ensembles highlight a commitment to collective artistry, and my chamber music projects exemplify an intimate dialogue between instruments. Together, these endeavors encapsulate my multifaceted approach to the modern music landscape.

Solo Projects

Sequences

Reconstructing Luciano Berio's Sequenza XI

Creations

New Music Commissioning

The Steve Reich Guitar Project

Complete works for guitar by Steve Reich

Bibault meets Moultaka

Diving into the music of a composer-plastician

Mirrors

Featuring works by Murail, Romitelli, Dufourt

Composition Projects

EaLC

Electroacoustic Live Composition

Still HI

When Human Intelligence creates with Artificial Intelligence

Metal

My first steps in music and a new album coming, 22 years later

Collaborations with Ensembles

Ensemble IntercontemporainKlangforum Wien (Vienna, Austria)Ensemble VariancesEnsemble 2E2MInSoliTusSound Icon (Boston, USA)Uproar (Wales, UK)Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France

More details

Chamber Music Projects

Duo Bibault Stragier

2 classical | 2 electric guitars

... and more to come

Schedule

Season 2024-2025

2—6 September 2024
Studio Sessions
Composing and recording songs for a new Metal album
To be released in 2025
A bolt from the Blue Studios, Cambridge, USA

9—13 September 2024
Studio Sessions
Composing and recording songs for a new Metal album
To be released in 2025
A bolt from the Blue Studios, Cambridge, USA

3 October 2024
Release of the video ‘Sequenza XI’ by Luciano Berio
on the Channel Arpeggio Films
Directed by Julien Hanck

10 October 2024
Interview on France Musique by Sébastien Llinares
About ‘Sequenza XI’ by Luciano Berio
Radio France, Paris

11 October 2024
Residence with composer Michelle-Agnès Magalhaes
Collaboration on a new piece for guitar
More details TBA
Paris

14 October 2024
Residence with composer Augustin Braud
Collaboration on a new piece for guitar
More details TBA
Paris

15 October 2024
Residence #1 with composer Frederic Durieux
Collaboration on the guitar / electroacoustics sounds for the composer’s new piece for Ensemble and Choir
To be premiere in Fondation Royaumont, September 2025
Ircam, Paris

18—25 November 2024
Residence with Maarten Stragier (guitar) and composer Jessie Cox
Creation of a new piece for two electric guitars
Harvard University, USA

7 December 2024
Premiere of a new piece for two electric guitars by composer Jessie Cox
De Bijloke, Gand, Belgium

16—21 December 2024
Residence / rehearsals with Ensemble Les Siècles
Music by Pierre Boulez:
– ‘eclats / multiples’
– ‘Pli Selon Pli’ with Soprano Sabine Devieilhe
Conducted by Franck Ollu
Philharmonie de Paris,
France

2—4 January 2025
Residence / rehearsals with Ensemble Les Siècles
Music by Pierre Boulez:
– ‘eclats / multiples’
– ‘Pli Selon Pli’ with Soprano Sabine Devieilhe
Conducted by Franck Ollu
Philharmonie de Paris, France

5—9 January 2025
Concerts Tour with Ensemble Les Siècles
Music by Pierre Boulez:
– ‘eclats / multiples’
– ‘Pli Selon Pli’ with Soprano Sabine Devieilhe
Conducted by Franck Ollu
5 January: Théâtre Municipal, Tourcoing, France
6 January: De Bijloke, Ghent, Belgium
7 January: Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris
8 January: Rehearsals, Philharmonie de Paris
9 January: Musica Viva, Munich, Germany

19—23 January 2025
Residence / rehearsals with Ensemble Sound Icon
‘Le Marteau sans maître’ by Pierre Boulez
Conducted by Jeffrey Means
Details TBA
Boston

31 January 2025
Concert with Ensemble Sound Icon
‘Le Marteau sans maître’ by Pierre Boulez
Conducted by Jeffrey Means
Details TBA
Boston

February 2025 (date TBC)
Solo Concert + Masterclass
Prof. Mak Grgic Guitar Studio
Columbia University, South Carolina, USA

28 March to 2 April 2025
Residence and concerts w/ Ensemble Variances (FR) and Ensemble Paramirabo (QC)
‘Pulse’ by Steve Reich (e.bass. g.)
‘Byar’ by Thierry Pécou (e.bass. g.)
Conducted by Thierry Pécou
31 March: Salle Cortot, Paris
2 April: Théâtre de Caen, France

7 June 2025
Concert with Ensemble Les Siècles
Music by Pierre Boulez:
– ‘eclats / multiples’
– ‘Pli Selon Pli’ with Soprano Sabine Devieilhe
Conducted by Franck Ollu
Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden, Germany

June 2025
Residence and Concert with composer Augustin Braud
Collaboration on a new piece for guitar
Date TBC, more details TBA
Paris

4—6 July 2025
Solo Concerts at the Festival Supernature
Details TBA
Normandy
, France

7 July 2025
Residence #2 with composer Frederic Durieux
Collaboration on the guitar / electroacoustics sounds for the composer’s new piece for Ensemble and Choir
To be premiere in Fondation Royaumont, September 2025
Ircam, Paris

July 2025
Concert
Details TBA
Luchon (FR)

1—5 September 2025
Concerts Tour with Ensemble Les Siècles
Music by Pierre Boulez:
– ‘eclats / multiples’
– ‘Pli Selon Pli’ with Soprano Sabine Devieilhe
Conducted by Franck Ollu
1 September: Rehearsals, Philharmonie de Paris
2 September: Atheneum, Bucarest, Romania
3-4 September: Rehearsals
5 September: Musikfest, Berlin Philharmonie, Germany

5 October 2025
Premiere of Frédéric Durieux’s ‘Sammlung’, for 6 voices, ensemble & electronic
With Ensemble Semblance & Schola Heidelberg
Conducted by Walter Nußbaum
Texts from the Prinzhorn collection (Heidelberg)
Electronic technology & sounds IRCAM
Serge Lemouton, Computer sound design
Royaumont Abbey, Asnières-sur-Oise, France
https://www.royaumont.com/en/

Click here for previous years' schedule

Video

Discography

Steve Reich

Pierre Bibault, guitar


Release: October 1, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Music, Solo Electric Guitar
Program: Nagoya Guitars, Electric Counterpoint, Electric Guitar Phase, Clapping Music
Music Company: IndéSens Records
Artistic Direction: Pierre Bibault
Photos: Cover: © Catherine Peillon, 2008 | Artist photos: © Manuel Braun, 2021
Length: 43 minutes
Format: CD Digipack + Booklet 12 pages & Streaming Platforms
Listen/buy: li.sten.to/pierrebibault

Humain Non Humain

w/ Ensemble Variances – Pécou, Mâche, Blackford


Release: 2021
Genre: Contemporary Music with Ensemble
Music Company: Ohuya Records
Art Direction: Thierry Pécou
Photos: Manuel Braun
Format: Streaming Platforms
Listen: Volume1Volume 2

Olga Neuwirth, "Die Stadt Ohne Juden" movie soundtrack

Ensemble Intercontemporain


Release: 2019
Genre: Contemporary Music with Ensemble, Movie Soundtrack
Music Company: Arte TV Edition
Artistic Direction: Olga Neuwirth
Format: DVD/Blu-ray
Buy: https://www.arte-edition.de/item/8510.html

Bronze Battu en Herbes

w/ Ensemble InSoliTus - Nicolas Mondon


Release: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Music with Ensemble
Music Company: Initiale (CNSM de Paris)
Artistic Direction: Nicolas Mondon
Format: CD

Duo Resonances

Granados, Piazzolla, Scarlatti, Granados, Mompou


Release: 2013
Genre: Classical Guitar Duo
Music Company: Calliope Records
Artistic Direction: Cécile Lenoir
Photos: Jean-Baptiste Millot
Format: CD Digipack + Booklet 12 pages
Length: 64 minutes

Silence of Insanity

The Silent Agony


Release: 2003
Genre: Metal
Music Company: Thundering Records
Artistic Direction: Pierre Bibault
Format: CD Digipack + Booklet 8 pages

Shades of Ancient Memories

Synoptia


Release: 2000
Genre: Metal
Music Company: A Bolt From the Blue Records
Artistic Direction: Synoptia
Format: Crystal box + Booklet 8 pages

North America (USA, Canada) booking

clmartists@gmail.com
www.clmartists.com

General Inquiries

contact@pierrebibault.com