Biography
Jérôme Hantaï, an accomplished viola da gamba player, has assembled an extensive body of critically praised recordings through partnerships with numerous chamber ensembles. He regularly appears alongside his brothers, the Baroque flutist Marc Hantaï and the keyboardist Pierre Hantaï.
Born in Paris in 1961, Hantaï spent his early years in the Paris region as the son of artist Simon Hantaï. Music drew his attention from a young age, leading him to teach himself several instruments over several years, among them the viola da gamba, harpsichord, fortepiano, and recorder. He later enrolled at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he trained with Wieland Kuijken and earned a first prize upon completing his studies in 1984.
After returning to France, Hantaï immersed himself in the expanding historical performance scene. He helped establish the Orchestre Baroque d’Île-de-France and the Ensemble Orlando Gibbons while collaborating with leading early music artists of the era, such as René Jacobs, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Wieland Kuijken, and Sigiswald Kuijken. In 1992 his viol contributed to the soundtrack of the film Tous les Matins du Monde under the direction of Jordi Savall.
Hantaï made his recording debut in 1997 on Virgin Classics with an album of Marin Marais viola da gamba music performed together with Pierre Hantaï and Alix Verzier. He followed this with further Virgin Classics releases devoted to French viol repertoire of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Hantaï founded the viol consort Ensemble Jérôme Hantaï, subsequently renamed Spes Nostra, as well as Trio Almaviva, serving as director of both ensembles. He has also continued performing on fortepiano, appearing in that capacity on a 2002 recording of William Walton’s Henry V with the BBC Symphony under Leonard Slatkin. His viola da gamba work with a range of chamber groups has earned French recording awards, including two Diapasons d’Or and a Choc du Monde de la musique. In 2022 he released the album Haydn: Trios avec Piano on fortepiano, joined by Marc Hantaï on flute, Alessandro Moccia on violin, and Verzier on cello.
Born in Paris in 1961, Hantaï spent his early years in the Paris region as the son of artist Simon Hantaï. Music drew his attention from a young age, leading him to teach himself several instruments over several years, among them the viola da gamba, harpsichord, fortepiano, and recorder. He later enrolled at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he trained with Wieland Kuijken and earned a first prize upon completing his studies in 1984.
After returning to France, Hantaï immersed himself in the expanding historical performance scene. He helped establish the Orchestre Baroque d’Île-de-France and the Ensemble Orlando Gibbons while collaborating with leading early music artists of the era, such as René Jacobs, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Wieland Kuijken, and Sigiswald Kuijken. In 1992 his viol contributed to the soundtrack of the film Tous les Matins du Monde under the direction of Jordi Savall.
Hantaï made his recording debut in 1997 on Virgin Classics with an album of Marin Marais viola da gamba music performed together with Pierre Hantaï and Alix Verzier. He followed this with further Virgin Classics releases devoted to French viol repertoire of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Hantaï founded the viol consort Ensemble Jérôme Hantaï, subsequently renamed Spes Nostra, as well as Trio Almaviva, serving as director of both ensembles. He has also continued performing on fortepiano, appearing in that capacity on a 2002 recording of William Walton’s Henry V with the BBC Symphony under Leonard Slatkin. His viola da gamba work with a range of chamber groups has earned French recording awards, including two Diapasons d’Or and a Choc du Monde de la musique. In 2022 he released the album Haydn: Trios avec Piano on fortepiano, joined by Marc Hantaï on flute, Alessandro Moccia on violin, and Verzier on cello.
Albums
