\u201cKaleidoscopic artist\u201d\u2014this expression, used in the French press to describe Damien Luce, sums him up perfectly. Convinced that a human being must live in all the rooms of their inner world, Damien Luce strives to express his sensitivity through his preferred artistic forms: classical music, theater, and literature. His first album, dedicated to Francis Poulenc\u2019s The Story of Babar and Georges Enescu\u2019s Childhood Impressions (with violinist Ga\u00e9tan Biron), was released in January 2010 (Accord\/Universal), concurrently with his first novel, The Burglar, published by H\u00e9lo\u00efse d\u2019Ormesson. This double release was met with enthusiasm: \u201cThe young musician (and actor) displays the most convincing tenderness\u201d (Diapason). Damien Luce was quickly praised for his sensitivity and his \u201cevening elegance.\u201d In 2011, he released two new recordings, one featuring works by Mozart and Haydn, the other Bach’s Sonatas for Violin and Piano (with Ga\u00e9tan Biron). His second novel, Cyrano de Boudou (also published by H\u00e9lo\u00efse d\u2019Ormesson), was paired with a stage production: Cyrano de Bergerac, which Damien Luce directed in a clownish style, while also playing the title role. The show premiered at the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre de Nesle before enjoying considerable success (over 1,200 spectators) at the 2012 Avignon OFF Festival. It subsequently played at the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre de M\u00e9nilmontant, then the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre des Vari\u00e9t\u00e9s, and finally the Com\u00e9die Saint-Michel, where it reached its 500th performance. The show was awarded the P\u2019tit Moli\u00e8re for Best Show for All Audiences in 2017. <\/p>\n\n
Alternating between concerts, performances, and writing in a humble and harmonious way, Damien Luce refuses to be pigeonholed. His musical training took him from the Paris Conservatory (CNR) to the Juilliard School in New York, familiarizing him with harmony, counterpoint, orchestration, sight-reading, music history, chamber music, and conducting. In theater, Damien Luce trained both in France (Studio Alain de Bock) and in the United States (Academy of Dramatic Arts, Michael Howard Studio). During his studies, he honed his skills in improvisation, clowning, acting for the camera, singing, dancing, the Sanford Meisner technique, physical theatre, mime, and diction, and explored the works of diverse authors such as Racine, Claudel, Anouilh, Ribes, Marivaux, Romains, Albee, and Miller. <\/p>\n\n
Many artists have influenced Damien Luce’s career, including Billy Eidi, Guy Sacre, Claude Helffer, Dominique Merlet, Herbert Stessin, Murray Perahia, Pascal Devoyon, Jacqueline Dussol, Rita Sloan, Laurent Petitgirard, Alain Louvier, Fay Simpson (Lucid Body technique), Fabrice Sal\u00e9 (clown), Alain de Bock, Katherine Gabelle, Steven Ditmyer (Meisner technique), Angela Pietropinto (acting), and David Wells (vocal technique).<\/p>\n\n
2014 saw the creation of a new show, Mr. Debussy at the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre des Vari\u00e9t\u00e9s, as well as the publication of his third novel, *La Fille de Debussy*, also with \u00c9ditions H\u00e9lo\u00efse d\u2019Ormesson. In 2016, Damien Luce starred in *Bobines*, a duo performance with his brother Renan Luce, directed by Isabelle Nanty and Benjamin Guillard. He then published *Claire de plume*, which received the Folire Prize in 2018. As a playwright, he wrote *La Promesse du papillon* in 2019, a play directed by Fran\u00e7ois Rollin at the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre des Vari\u00e9t\u00e9s. <\/p>\n\n
As a concert pianist, Damien Luce has performed in numerous countries (France, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Algeria, Togo, etc.), with varied and original repertoires. In 2021, he adapted Maurice Ravel’s opera *L’Enfant et les Sortil\u00e8ges*, with a libretto by Colette, for young audiences, collaborating with actress\/dancer Elsa Godard and choreographer Namiko Gahier-Ogawa. The Paris premiere took place at the Caf\u00e9 de la Danse in November 2021. <\/p>\n\n
His fifth novel, *Un dr\u00f4le de Valentin* (also published by H\u00e9lo\u00efse d\u2019Ormesson), will be published on April 7, 2022.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cKaleidoscopic artist\u201d\u2014this expression, used in the French press to describe Damien Luce, sums him up perfectly. Convinced that a human being must live in all the rooms of their inner world, Damien Luce strives to express his sensitivity through his preferred artistic forms: classical music, theater, and literature. His first album, dedicated to Francis Poulenc\u2019s The Story of Babar and Georges Enescu\u2019s Childhood Impressions (with violinist Ga\u00e9tan Biron), was released in January 2010 (Accord\/Universal), concurrently with his first novel, The Burglar, published by H\u00e9lo\u00efse d\u2019Ormesson. This double release was met with enthusiasm: \u201cThe young musician (and actor) displays the most convincing tenderness\u201d (Diapason). Damien Luce was quickly praised for his sensitivity and his \u201cevening elegance.\u201d In 2011, he released two new recordings, one featuring works by Mozart and Haydn, the other Bach’s Sonatas for Violin and Piano (with Ga\u00e9tan Biron). His second novel, Cyrano de Boudou (also published by H\u00e9lo\u00efse…<\/p>\n