Pierre-Laurent Aimard has signed an exclusive recording contract with the Dutch classical music label Pentatone. This new and exciting partnership will be launched with the release of Messiaen’s complete Catalogue d’oiseaux in March 2018; Aimard’s first ever recording of the work. Aimard is renowned as one of Messiaen’s finest living interpreters and was personally very close with both the composer himself and his wife, Yvonne Loriod. The Catalogue was in fact composed for Yvonne, with whom Aimard studied piano. 

Upon signing to Pentatone, Aimard remarked,​“I am delighted to be starting on this new collaboration with Pentatone and am looking forward to working on the many exciting repertoire plans that we have been discussing.” 

Renaud Loranger, Vice President Artists and Repertoire at Pentatone added, ​“I have long admired Pierre-Laurent’s unparalleled artistry and uncanny, fascinating intellect. It is a great privilege to be developing recording projects with him that will certainly be recognized as landmark interpretations. His appetite for repertoire, old and new is properly immense, and he will find at PENTATONE a new artistic home where he can share his captivating insights with a broad audience of connoisseurs and newcomers alike.” 

The French-born pianist is widely acclaimed as one of today’s most celebrated musicians and was awarded the 2017 International Ernest von Siemens Music Prize in recognition of a life devoted to the service of music. Aimard performs throughout the world each season with major orchestras under conductors including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Peter Eötvös, Sir Simon Rattle and Vladimir Jurowski. Upcoming highlights this summer include complete performances of the Catalogue at the Tanglewood and Ravinia Festivals, and appearances at Salzburg Festival and Hollywood Bowl with Los Angeles Philharmonic.