Emmanuel Pahud

The Swiss-born flautist Emmanuel Pahud had a peripatetic childhood living in places as diverse as Madrid, Baghdad and Rome. It was whilst living in Rome that Pahud's family lived in the same apartment block as the Binet family whose son Philippe was a flautist. Pahud recalls that one memorable day he overheard Philippe playing Mozart's 'Flute Concerto No. 1' and it had a profound effect on the young boy. Although Pahud was only four years old his parents indulged his wishes to play and so they bought him a flute of his own and he began taking lessons from the Philippe's father who was also an accomplished flautist.

Pahud went on to study at the Conservatoire de Paris, winning numerous competitions before being taken on by the Munich Philharmonic as principal flautist. At the age of 22 he joined the Berlin Philharmonic, the youngest member of the ensemble. Pahud has matured into an internationally renowned artist capable of performing in a wide variety of styles and as well as his recording career he has a busy touring schedule performing concerts around the globe.