Thomas Bloch
Thomas Bloch is a worldwide prominent classical soloist specializing in the rare instruments (ondes Martenot, glass harmonica, cristal Baschet). His performances range from classical and contemporary music to songs, rock, theatre music, opera, improvisation, film music, world music, ballet music. He is also a composer and a producer.
Receiving a First Prize for ondes Martenot at the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (with Jeanne Loriod) and a Masters Degree in Musicology at the University of Strasbourg, Thomas Bloch has performed over 3000 times in 40 countries and appears on over 150 recordings, as well personal or as an invited performer.
Notable collaborations (concerts or recordings) include Radiohead, John Cage, Gorillaz / Damon Albarn (Monkey: Journey to the West, after 2007), Tom Waits / Marianne Faithfull / Bob Wilson (The Black Rider / 2004 - 2006), Emilie Simon / Luc Jacquet (The March of Penguins), Milos Forman (Amadeus - long version "the director's cut", 2001), Daft Punk...
He teaches ondes Martenot at the Strasbourg Conservatoire since 1992. He is a musical director for the Evian Music Festival (France) and for the Glass Music International Festival 2005 in Paris Cité de la Musique, he writes articles for various musical books and is responsible for presentations of his instruments at the Paris Musée de la Musique since its opening (1997).
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Taboo instruments, sometimes dismissed because they are little known, or considered too pure, too free in their effortless maintenance and without physical ostentation, the Glass Harmonica and the Baschet Crystal can nevertheless lead us towards new territories of listening. They are among the rarest instruments and the only ones whose creation requires the use of the four elements: fire, air and earth to shape them, and water to make them sing.