Biography

Eric Bellocq studied the guitar

Guitar

The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

 with Alexandre Lagoya

Alexandre Lagoya

Alexandre Lagoya was a classical guitarist. His early career included boxing and guitar, and as he cites on the sleeve of his 1981 Columbia album, his parents hoped he would outgrow his predilection for both....

 at the Paris Conservatory, where he also graduated with a First Prize. He played the theorbo

Theorbo

A theorbo is a plucked string instrument. As a name, theorbo signifies a number of long-necked lutes with second pegboxes, such as the liuto attiorbato, the French théorbe des pièces, the English theorbo, the archlute, the German baroque lute, the angélique or angelica. The etymology of the name...

 in the Baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants

Les Arts Florissants (ensemble)

Les Arts Florissants is a Baroque musical ensemble in residence at the Théâtre de Caen in Caen, France. The organization was founded by conductor William Christie in 1979. The ensemble derives its name from the 1685 opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The organization consists of a chamber orchestra...

, directed by William Christie

William Christie (musician)

William Lincoln Christie is an American-born French conductor and harpsichordist. He is noted as a specialist in baroque repertoire and as the founder of the ensemble Les Arts Florissants....

, from 1983 to 1990; during this period he also regularly took part in opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

 productions and concert performances with La Chapelle Royale, Les Musiciens du Louvre

Les Musiciens du Louvre

Les Musiciens du Louvre is a French period instrument ensemble, formed in 1982. Originally based in Paris, since 1996 it has been based in the Couvent des Minimes in Grenoble. The Guardian considers it one of the best orchestras in the world.- History:Founded by Marc Minkowski in 1982, the...

, Les Talens Lyriques

Les Talens Lyriques

Les Talens Lyriques is a baroque orchestra founded in 1991 by French conductor Christophe Rousset.The ensemble takes its name from Jean-Philippe Rameau's opéra-ballet Les fêtes d'Hébé ou les talens lyriques .- External links :...

, La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy

La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy

La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy is a French musical ensemble that performs using period instruments. The group was founded in 1966 by Jean-Claude Malgoire. While the ensemble has performed a wide repertoire from a variety of musical periods, the group has drawn particular acclaim for their...

, Café Zimmermann, Le Concert Spirituel, Akâdemia, Le concert d'Astrée, Capricio Stravagante, La Fenice and with the violinist Hélène Schmitt

Hélène Schmitt

Hélène Schmitt is a prize-winning French violinist and a professor of baroque violin in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.Schmitt first started out as a chamber musician before specialising in baroque music. She spent 10 years in Bâle, Switzerland, next to Chiara Banchini and Jesper Bøje Christensen...

.

Since 1990 he has concentrated on solo performances and his role as lutenist in the Ensemble Clément Janequin, directed by Dominique Visse

Dominique Visse

Dominique Visse is a French countertenor and founder of the Ensemble Clément Janequin. Visse devotes himself to performing of secular and religious music of the Renaissance. He is principally known for his interpretations of the Parisian chansons.He was a chorister in the Cathedral of Notre Dame...

. Eric Bellocq accompanies Dominique Visse with the jazz pianist François Couturier in recitals of music ranging from Machaut to Berio; and with the juggler Vincent de Lavenère has created the staged show Le chant des balles - an encounter of early music, improvisation and juggling.

Eric Bellocq has made numerous recordings for Accord, Adès, Alpha, Claves, Decca, Erato, harmonia mundi, Vérany, Virgin, Zig-Zag Territoires and also Frame (solo CD), King Records (Japan) with Dominique Visse, Naxos with a duo recital with Massimo Moscardo, and Pure Classics with Jean-Paul Fouchécourt. He teaches at the Paris Conservatory.

(copied from www.bellocq.info, with authorization by Eric Bellocq)

External links

Official website www.bellocq.info