CHOPIN RACHMANINOV – Hugo Martin

Program:

Chopin

- Waltzes in E major (KK IVa no.13), in A minor (KK IVb no.11), F minor known as "farewell" op. posthumous 69 no.1 and B minor op.69 posthumous no.2

- Etude Op.25 no.10 in B minor

- Nocturnes in E flat major op.9 no.2 and in C sharp minor opus posthumous

Liszt

- Transcendental Etude no.12 "chasse-neige"

Scriabin

- Etude op.2 no.1

Chopin

- Mazurka op.33 no 4 in B minor

- Prelude in E minor

- Etudes Op.25 no.12 "ocean"

- Ballade no.4 op. 52

- Mazurka op 17 no.4 in A minor

- Polonaise op.53 in A flat major

Hugo Martin is a French musician with a background that is atypical to say the least. After several years of private piano lessons in a music school in Albi, he decided to turn professional when he turned 18 years old. From then on, this young pianist joined the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Toulouse in Irène Blondel's class. During these three years and until obtaining his Diploma (DEM) awarded with unanimous Highest Honors, he happily and passionately discovered chamber music, accompaniment and conducting, so many disciplines that he would cherish and deepen thereafter.

During these years in Toulouse, Hugo Martin's musical preferences took shape and he developed a growing interest in Bach, Schubert, Ravel, but also and above all in the Russian repertoire, notably from the beginning of the XXth century. He then decided to continue his studies in Russia, at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow in Mikhail Voskresensky's class, where he obtained a Russian state scholarship to fully finance his studies. These years revealed to the young musician the genius of the music of Prokofiev and Shostakovich, but especially of Scriabin, so much so that he would perform his music in most of his recitals and festivals, in France as well as in Russia. Thus, from his first year in Moscow, Hugo Martin won 1st prize at the Scriabin International Piano Competition in Paris.

Alongside the solo repertoire, chamber music plays an important role in the musical life of Hugo Martin who, in addition to numerous experiences as part of his studies, has performed in concerts as a duo, trio and quartet and gave several lectures with his ensemble to make classical music accessible to younger audiences. Hugo Martin also composes for piano, string quartet, and other musical ensembles. He learned orchestration from Tikhon Khrennikov and studied conducting with Anatoly Levin at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. He was also a jury member for two Russian national competitions, in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In 2023, Hugo Martin obtained the red diploma from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, which rewards students who obtained the highest possible grades in every subject for 5 years. In September of the same year, he decided to move to Paris and performed in concert notably at the Rachmaninoff Conservatory of Paris, at the Russian Cultural Center, and at private events. The cultural ties that the young pianist is keen to maintain with Russia led Hugo Martin to undertake, in January 2024, a concert tour in the Yaroslavl region supported by La Renaissance Française as well as the cultural attaché of the French Embassy in Russia. In parallel with his concert activities, he pursues a career as an accompanist at the CRR of Créteil and at the Rachmaninoff Conservatory of Paris, where he also teaches chamber music.

In September 2024, he received a scholarship and joined the class of Prof. Sergei Markarov, the first Russian to have become a UNESCO Artist for Peace, at the École Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot in Paris.

In 2025, Hugo Martin served on the jury of the 1st Rachmaninov International Youth Competition in Zhuhai, China, and performed there in concert. He also continues to develop his career as a pianist, performing notably at the Salle Cortot in Paris. Looking ahead, Hugo Martin intends to bring Russian musical culture and his conception of what musical art should be to Europe. He aims for a diversified career and plans to play in different musical formations: alone at his piano, with orchestra, singers and other musicians, but above all, always transmitting his passion.