Karol Beffa

Karol Beffa is a French-Swiss composer, pianist, and musicologist. A former child actor, he later studied at the École Normale Supérieure and the Conservatoire de Paris, achieving the highest distinctions in several disciplines. With a doctorate in musicology, he teaches at ENS. His catalogue includes over 100 works – concert music, film scores, operas, ballets – performed by major orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre National de France. His style alternates lyrical textures (“clouds”) and rhythmic energy (“clocks”), with frequent references to composers or works from the past. He also improvises in concert, accompanying silent films or based on themes suggested by the audience, and collaborates with actors, writers, and visual artists. He has received numerous awards, including two Victoires de la Musique Classique and the Grand Prix SACEM.