Could you describe what you do as a musician in plain words that is understandable to a non-musician?
I perform in concerts, which can vary from a solo recital (solo piano on stage), to a concerto with orchestra (soloist with a symphony orchestra), or in a chamber music setting (which means a group of people playing together, either with instrumentalists or singers). That is mostly what I do, but I also do recordings (either video or album) and our work consist actually of lots of practicing by yourself and rehearsing with other musicians.
When and how did you decide to become a professional musician? Did you understand what you signed up for back then? Did it turn out the way you had imagined?
I knew I wanted to do this for a very long time, so I don’t think there was any specific moment which made me think I should be a professional musician. I remember performing for a big audience in a massive theatre when I was about 9 years old, I had only started playing piano for a little more than a year, and I thought the act of performing and being on stage was such a thrill.
I was then brought in competitions and summer camp as a kid, and it made me realize one could actually live from music making, and that thought just stayed with me. I never asked myself the question a thousand times, I just loved making music and also started playing chamber music as a teenager, which enhanced my love for music in such a deep way. Of course, I did not know what I was signing up for back then, but I did not grow up as an anxious person at all, so I always just followed the wind and things where they got me. I worked hard and was interested in learning, so these two basic foundations led me to where I am today.
Things are really above and beyond any expectations or dreams I had. I do consider myself extremely lucky and everyday I am grateful to have the life I have. It’s very hard and requires a lot of dedication, but so far, I find it so worth it and it brings me so much fulfillment.
Do you still listen to music for leisure these days?
Absolutely, all the time. I listen to lots of different genres, and I truly believe that in my very own personal journey, it is essential for me to hear different sounds, not just instrumental. Naturally, I do listen to classical music on a daily basis, but I am so ever curious to discover different artists, as it brings me so much joy. I love music as it is.
What are some works of music that are in your personal sacred shrine?
So many, I wouldn’t even know where to begin, and I’ve always found those questions very intimidating and impossible to answer, because my spectrum of favourite works is so large, therefore I am not sure I really want to answer this question.
How important is the presentation of sound to you in a recording? Do you believe a recording can be either “musical” or “sterile”?
Sound, I believe, is everything in a recording. I find it so frustrating when an artist has amazing colourful abilities and these are not being reflected in the recording. The whole point, in my opinion, of recording, is to have a sound that’s very much alive.
In the same vein, I do believe a recording can sound very sterile, and of course it’s the result of a whole team, the musicians and recording engineers altogether. I will, personally, always be in favour of a musical recording, as it is the whole point of our craft.
How does audio playback gear, especially headphones, influence the way you perceive recordings, and music in general? Does it inform your own performance? Has Hifiman headphones brought any revelations to your creative work?
I think headphones matter more than anything when listening to a recording. They are the vessel to allow us to truly appreciate and maximize our listening experience. I had the immense chance to have Hifiman Headphones when I was listening to the tracks of my first album, and I must admit it changed the whole process. I did try to compare with different headphones, and the amount of detail that was left out in other headphones was extremely surprising, therefore I am so ever grateful I was able to hear my tracks with such a level of precision and accuracy, which gave me confidence in my ability to judge my recording.
What was your proudest work or moment you could share with us? Proudest recording?
I have so far only recorded one album, called « Nouveau Lyrisme », under the Leaf Music label, so I would have to say this is my best recording, as it is my only one. I was very happy to have the opportunity to record in such a beautiful place like Domaine Forget, where the acoustics and the piano are perfect for one to record on. I have upcoming projects in the books for future solo and chamber recordings, in a very different context, so stay tuned for these future projects.
Do you have any upcoming performances or albums you’d like to share with us and our audience?
Yes, I have a busy concert diary which is always shared on my website: chloedumoulinpiano.com. I will perform in Canada, US and UK for the upcoming months, including two concertos with orchestra, from one of the most famous ones, Rachmaninov’s Second Concerto, to a very mysterious one, Montsalvatge’s Concierto Breve. I have many projects I am very excited about, some I can’t say so far, some that are out there, like my collaboration with Vias and Olivier Bergeron, which will lead us to perform in Bourgie Hall and the National Arts Centre, in a beautiful concert around Schubert.
← Back to Artists