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01 — Biography

From the Conservatory to Victoria Hall

Composer, pianist, conductor, author — born in Geneva in 1986. A singular path, between late Romanticism and modernity.

20+

Catalogued opus

2003

First compositions

9+

Dedicated performers

2007

FNAC Young Talent Prize

Doryan Emmanuel Rappaz

Born17 July 1986, Geneva

OriginsEvionnaz, Valais

MentorBogdan Zvorastenau (OSR)

ActiveSince 2003

Doryan Emmanuel Rappaz, born in Geneva in 1986, wrote his first pieces at seventeen after a brief stint at the Conservatory and a long self-taught apprenticeship. Trained in orchestration by Bogdan Zvorastenau, first violin of the OSR, he signed his Piano Concerto No. 1 in 2010, premiered by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra.

From the Serenade for Strings (Victoria Hall, 2011) to the 13 Solitudes cycle, from the Double Concerto to the more recent « Les Noces » with Léman Virtuosi, his catalogue weaves a patient dialogue between late romanticism, European modernity and intimate depth.

Founder and president of GenevArte, winner of the FNAC Young Talent Prize for his book Rêve d'ado (2007), he pursues several entrepreneurial adventures in parallel — without ever leaving the piano.

Career

Timeline

  1. 1986

    Birth in Geneva

    Training

    Born on 17 July in Geneva, of Valais origin (Evionnaz).

  2. 2000

    Discovery of the piano

    Training

    Begins piano around age 14 and discovers classical music.

  3. 2001

    Geneva Conservatory

    Training

    Brief time at the Conservatory, then choice of self-taught learning.

  4. 2003

    First compositions

    Music

    Writes his first pieces at seventeen, introduced to orchestration by Bogdan Zvorastenau (OSR).

  5. 2007

    Adagio for Strings

    Music

    Commissioned by violinist Habib Kayaleh, premiered at the Geneva Conservatory, opening concert of the Month of Japanese Culture.

  6. Rêve d'ado

    Literature

    Young Talent Prize — FNAC Literature Revelation at the Geneva Book Fair.

  7. Founding of GenevArte

    Entrepreneurship

    Creates the GenevArte association to promote classical music and support young talent.

  8. 2010

    Piano Concerto No. 1 op. 3

    Music

    Premiered by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, pianist Uriah Mamane — first major symphonic work.

  9. 2011

    Serenade for Strings — Victoria Hall

    Music

    Conducts his Serenade for Strings op. 1 himself at Victoria Hall, Geneva.

  10. GenevArte recognised as a public-benefit non-profit

    Entrepreneurship

    The association is recognised as a public-benefit non-profit by the Canton of Geneva.

  11. 2013

    Prélude for piano and violin — Rome

    Music

    Premiere in Rome of op. 6, Prélude for piano and violin, in April.

  12. 2014

    Byron Baciocchi Immobilier

    Entrepreneurship

    Events director at Byron Baciocchi Immobilier SA.

  13. 2018

    Founding of LaseRed

    Entrepreneurship

    Creates LaseRed, the world's first concept combining escape room and laser game.

  14. 2021

    Founding of Immo V

    Entrepreneurship

    Founds his own real estate brokerage firm, Immo V.

  15. 2023

    Les Noces op. 18

    Music

    Premiere of Les Noces op. 18 with the Léman Virtuosi.

References

Acknowledged influences

Beethoven

Classical / Romantic

Brahms

Late Romantic

Chopin

Romantic

Schumann

Romantic

Liszt

Late Romantic

Rachmaninov

Post-Romantic

Not as citation, but as emotional foundation — the Romantic language transformed into something entirely personal.

Distinctions

Awards & recognition

2007

Young Talent Prize — FNAC Literature Revelation

FNAC / Geneva Book Fair

For the novel « Rêve d'ado », presented at the Geneva Book Fair.

2011

Public-benefit non-profit recognition

Canton of Geneva

GenevArte, the association founded by Rappaz, recognised as a public-benefit non-profit.

Artists

Performers

Uriah Mamane

Piano

Piano Concerto No. 1 op. 3 (premiere)

Jansen Ryser

Piano

Piano Concerto No. 1 op. 3

Floriane Bourreau

Piano

13 Solitudes op. 4

Kamil Osmanov

Piano

13 Solitudes op. 4 · Jour de pluie op. 20 · Le Songe de Prométhée op. 26

Oksana Pavlova

Piano

Rhapsodie Corse

François-Xavier Poizat

Piano

2010 Chamber Series

Nadège Rochat

Cello

2010 Chamber Series

Habib Kayaleh

Violin

Adagio for Strings (commissioner)

Bogdan Zvorastenau

Violin (OSR)

Musical mentor, orchestration teacher

Ensemble Hypermoderne

Ensemble

Poème op. 8

Léman Virtuosi

Ensemble

Les Noces op. 18

Artists

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