In memoriam Gilles Landini (1.10.1963 - 30.6.2025)

John Michet (former student) Suddenly, on Monday June 30, 2025, an exceptional artist joined the stars to make them dance to the sound of his music, vibrate to the depth of his discourse, blush to the charm of his interpretation and shine with the light of his soul. Gilles Landini, a pianist of many talents, always in search of a sincere interpretation and a fine teacher, never stingy in sharing his culture and knowledge, leaves us with beautiful musical testimonies through his recordings (available, among others, on YouTube) and a pianistic and pedagogical legacy through his students.
He was not, as he put it, a factory for pianists, but rather a gardener for musicians, giving them what they needed to flourish. His ability to understand people, his ability to listen and his taciturnity meant that he got from his pupils everything they could emotionally provide. The goal he took them towards was not only to know the score, but to go beyond the notes and understand the composer's discourse. Thanks to his historical knowledge, he liked to place works in the context in which they were written; geographically, geopolitically and, for the composer, biographically, not only to disseminate culture but also to bring authenticity to the performance of a score.
He didn't like standardization, he wanted diversity, sincerity and personality.
He wanted music to go everywhere, to be accessible to everyone.
He loved what was true and whole, like himself.

Alexis Domjan (former student)  We all know what a wonderful musician Gilles was. He was a complete artist. Pianist, teacher, stage director, poet under his fingers and with his pen. He loved music all his life, and passed it on to friends, students and audiences alike.
Gilles discovered the piano at the age of 9, with Susanna Sierro-Rigoli. He then entered the Geneva Conservatoire, where he passed his first professional exams with flying colors.
In 1987, he was unanimously awarded the prestigious Gabrielle Agostini Fellowship.
He then went on to perfect his skills with Edith Fischer - Claudio Arrau's artistic heir. Gilles writes: "With my wonderful Edith, I find a whole world of musical and pianistic reflection. It was with her that he obtained his virtuosity diploma in 1991: first prize with honors and congratulations from the jury.
In 1990, he joined the Neuchâtel Conservatory of Music, where he has remained ever since. At the SSPM, he passionately trains young professionals. Generously, he organizes "joint courses" with his piano class. Wonderful moments of work, exchange, music and laughter...
Gilles performs in all the major Swiss cities, as well as in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria - and even in the Bellechasse and Bochuz prisons. He wanted music to go everywhere...
He gave hundreds of recitals: solo piano, chamber music, with orchestra too. With the help of his partner Daniel, he played regularly in Alsace under the banner "Musicademeure" and never hesitated to improvise an impromptu concert - as he did in July 2024 in Bigton, Shetland. A loyal participant in Geneva's Fête de la Musique, a driving force behind piano classes in Neuchâtel, a regular at Espace 2's Schubertiades and Edith Fischer's Blonay Festival, he shared music as much as he could...
From 1996 to 2001, he hosted a weekly popularization column on Télévision Suisse Romande's "Zig Zag Café" program. On Geneva radio station Radio-Cité, his "17 heures" showcases classical music. In 2004, the Mezzo channel chose him as the main theme of the documentary Helvetica, a musical journey through French-speaking Switzerland. He is a regular contributor to the program Disque en Lice on La Première radio.
Gilles has also directed several operas: Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle in 2001, Poulenc's La Voix humaine, based on a text by Jean Cocteau, in 2003, with his own piano accompaniment, and Raffaello Diabrini-Palazzi's Ginevra degli Almieri in 2004.
Gilles made two recordings, the first dedicated to Schubert, D'Alessandro and Rachmaninov, in 1992, followed by a tribute to Chopin in 1999, recorded at the Salle de Musique in La Chaux-de-Fonds. They are hailed for their immense artistic quality.
In 2007, Gilles was artistic director of the Grieg Festival organized by the Neuchâtel Conservatoire to mark the centenary of the composer's death. He performs and directs Peer Gynt.
In 2010, he is president of the association that will set up the Chopin-Schumann-Reinecke Festival. In February 2025, he is the instigator of a wonderful musical evening on Espace2 to celebrate Edith Fischer's 90th birthday.
Gilles loved to share. He gave music history courses for amateur music lovers in Neuchâtel and Geneva, at the conservatory and also at the Université du 3ème Age. He used to say that the musician had to come down from his ivory tower. That's why he always commented before taking up the piano: he would tell the historical context of the work and the composer, which was always an enrichment.
Gilles' repertoire was vast. He wrote: "Everything I play is my favorite". He continued:  "Interpreting is, in my way of experiencing music, the way to present these wonderful composers as living friends".
There's Mozart, of course: "human, at the heart of humanity, in its light and darkness", he wrote. He also loved the refinement of Chopin and Grieg. And of course, he didn't forget all those great composers, most of whom he played: Schubert, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Bach, Bartók, Haydn, Franck, Debussy, Fauré, Dvorák, Ravel, Vierne, Sibelius, Moussorgsky,
Gilles also loved to write, penning over thirty poems.

With the profound humanity he radiated, Gilles lives on in us. His credo is no longer just that of the musician, but that of the generous, committed man he was: "Music is for everyone and must go everywhere".

Monique Buunk Droz (former head of SSPM examinations in French-speaking Switzerland) A humanist, radiant, generous and highly cultured artist, this is what we will remember of Gilles Landini, who leaves us a magnificent legacy of life. The crowd that paid tribute to him on Wednesday July 9 in Veyrier was a sign of this.
I have warm and respectful memories of our collaboration on the SSPM exams. As well as fond memories of our Radio-Cité broadcasts, in which some of them took part.

I quote the opinion of the Neuchâtel Conservatory:
"A man who was much more than a teacher."
This is how several of his students describe Gilles Landini, who passed away suddenly at around 12:30 on Monday, following an operation.
The Conservatoire de musique neuchâtelois would like to pay tribute to the unwavering commitment of this teacher and CMNE delegate since 1990, who had a deep sensitivity to all those who needed special support.
He has become the "pianist to the angels".