Waldo - Biography in English
"With his lecture-performances, pianist and storyteller Waldo Geuns offers a unique concert experience to his audience. As a pianist, musicologist and philosopher, he knows better than anyone how to deepen the emotions in music and stimulate curiosity. As virtuoso as he is at the piano, he talks with passion about every possible musical and philosophical subject.
The story behind the music: that's been pianist and storyteller Waldo Geuns' passion from a young age. It has taken him from the piano to music theory, musicology and philosophy. All of these disciplines are inextricably interwoven in every performance Waldo gives. Building on his inexhaustible knowledge of classical, jazz, world and folk music, Waldo loves to be surrounded by other musicians, scientists, fashion designers, dancers, authors or even a horse stunt team. This guarantees an original and unforgettable concert experience for the audience each and every time. Many of his projects have been developed with his regular chamber music partner, the violinist and philosopher Hugh Desmond, together with whom he forms the philosophical musical Duo Doppio Stile.
The virtuoso, expressive way in which Waldo expresses himself as pianist, chamber musician, accompanist, orchestral soloist and storyteller has meant he is a popular guest on Radio 1 and Radio Klara, and also at major concert venues and festivals in Belgium (BOZAR, Flagey, Amuz, Concertgebouw Bruges, De Bijloke Ghent, Festival 20/21 Leuven, B-Classic Limburg, Jazzathome Mechelen, Flagey Piano Days,...) and abroad (Leidse Salon in Leiden, Mozarteum Salzburg, la Défense in Paris, Wagnermuseum Luzern, Arvo Pärt Center Tallinn,...).
Waldo trained as a pianist in Brussels and Salzburg under Jan Michiels, Hans Leygraf, Christoph Lieske, Bernd Glemser and André De Groote, and he continues to perfect his skills under the Polish pianist and teacher Wieslaw Szlachta. He has been on stage with such orchestras as the Limburgs Kamerorkest, Limburgs Orkest Jeugd en Muziek, the Hasselts Symfonieorkest and SymphoniaASSAI, under the supervision of such conductors as Koen Dries, Jasper De Waal, Wouter Lenaerts and Pierre Bartholomée.
Waldo released his first solo CD on Antarctica Records in April 2018. Cuentos de Amor comprises his own compositions as well as the sensual, virtuoso Goyescas by Enrique Granados ("A jewel" - Daily Classical Choice; "Sublime!" - Stretto). To accompany the CD, he published a listener's guide entitled Spanish Stories in which he tells the story of Granados and the Goyescas. He loves to share his musical passions in print. Waldo is a regular contributor to cultural magazines and editor of the Flagey in Brussels. In addition, he works for Davidsfonds as a lecturer and tour guide for cultural trips abroad and teaches Music History and Philosophy at the Royal Brussels Conservatoire.
