FRENCH-AMERICAN PIANO SOCIETY

in partnership with

THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN WASHIGTON D.C.

LA MAISON FRANCAISE

presents

Nour Ayadi, Piano

“masks and dances”

2026 Fall Benefit Recital

THURSDAY, november 5, 2026 at 7:30PM

LA MAISON FRANCAISE

EMBASSY OF FRANCE, WASHINGTON DC

PROGRAM

Nour Ayadi, Piano

Performing on the James E. Sheeran Steinway Piano

Masks and Dances

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764)

La Poule (“The Hen”), in G minor, RCT 5/14
from Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin (c. 1728)

Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer (1705–1755)

L’Aimable, Rondeau
from Premier livre de pièces de clavecin (1746)

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)

Étude-tableau in C minor, Op. 33, No. 3 (1911)

Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)

Novelette No. 1 in C major, FP 47, No. 1 (1927)

Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)

“Russian Dance” (Danse russe)
from Three Movements from Petrushka (1921)

Borowski

Miniaturen: “Game” | “Stay” |“A Different Story”

Claude Debussy (1862–1918)

“Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest” (“What the West Wind Saw”)
from Préludes, Book I, No. 7, L. 125 (117), in F-sharp minor (1909–10)

Enrique Granados (1867–1916)

El pelele (Escena goyesca) (1915)

François Couperin (1668–1733)

Les Barricades mystérieuses
from Pièces de clavecin, Book II, Sixth Ordre, No. 5, in B-flat major (1717)

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)

Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel in B-flat major, Op. 24 (1861)

French-Moroccan pianist Nour Ayadi began playing the piano at the age of six in her native country before continuing her studies in France at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and later at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, where she graduated with the highest honors. She also was an Artist-In-Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and the Haute École de Musique de Genève, studying with renowned masters such as András Schiff, Maria João Pires, and Nelson Goerner.

Winner of the First Grand Prize at the SAR Lalla Meryem Competition in 2016 and the Cortot Prize in 2019, Nour was nominated for the 2024 Victoires de la Musique Classique and performs at prestigious international festivals such as La Roque d’Anthéron, the Verbier Festival, and Les Folles Journées de Nantes. She collaborates with acclaimed conductors and orchestras, including Petri Sakari, Augustin Dumay, Christophe Koncz, and Mikko Franck, as well as artists such as Gautier Capuçon. Her second album, dedicated to Schumann and Poulenc, received high critical acclaim, and a new release exploring the theme of Faust in literature and music came out this year.

Alongside her musical career, Nour Ayadi pursues a strong intellectual path, holding a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Sciences Po Paris. She regularly gives lectures there and takes part in international conferences on societal issues, including the annual women’s health conference in Singapore, the Chapter54 Summit for European and African businesses, and talks at the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris. She is also deeply involved in education through masterclasses and is currently pursuing the Certificat d’Aptitude teaching diploma at the Paris Conservatory.

In 2025, she was named an ambassador of the Classeek program in Switzerland and was awarded the title of Chevalière de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.

We are grateful to our 2026 patrons and partners:

THE YOUNG PIANISTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Young Pianists Scholarship Program, spearheaded by the French-American Piano Society, is a distinguished initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of French piano virtuosos for U.S. audiences. This program offers exceptional young pianists an invaluable opportunity to advance their international presence and experience. Selected scholars from the Conservatoire National de Paris benefit from access to world-class performance venues at the Consulate of France in New York and the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., where they are exposed to and meet curious and supportive U.S. audiences.

THE LVMH PIANO

At its inaugural recital on November 16 2023, S.E. Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France in the United States of America, in the company of S.E. Philippe Etienne, Former Ambassador of France, Anish Melwani, Chairman and CEO of LVMH USA and Dr. Mathieu Petitjean, Founder and President of the French American Piano Society inaugurated the LVMH Piano. Pianist Helene Tysman, in a highly attended recital, breathed life into the instrument.

A plaque with the following statement is located on the cover of the piano:

THE FRENCH-AMERICAN PIANO SOCIETY

RECOGNIZES THE GENEROUS DONATION OF LVMH AND FIFTY PATRONS

WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PIANO

HERE IN NAMED IN THEIR HONOR

THE LVMH PIANO

In August 2022, a gathering of representatives from the Albertine Cultural Services of the Embassy of France and the French-American Piano Society converged in Washington. Their purpose was to collaborate with Ambassador Philippe Etienne and craft a visionary plan for the renovation of La Maison Francaise's recital hall and cultural program. Buoyed by a decade of success in New York, marked by the acquisition of a Steinway grand piano, the awarding of 17 scholarships to young French pianists, and over 40 memorable recitals, the team aspired to extend this triumph to the heart of Washington. This endeavor, infused with a profound sense of revival after three years of pandemic-induced silence, became a poignant expression of resilience.

The dream that unfolded encompassed the acquisition of another Steinway grand piano and the launch of a four-year cultural program featuring recitals, scholarships, and exchanges. Its essence aimed to elevate and spotlight French pianists and the rich repertoire of French piano music in the United States. United by this ambitious vision, the team coalesced with fervor, raising the required funds in record time.

At the core of this transformative project stood LVMH, a crucial catalyst swiftly joined by Levine Music and fifty passionate patrons who became part of the "88 Keys" program, where each key was sponsored. The success of the fundraising campaign culminated in a jubilant celebration in December 2022, marked by a high-profile recital featuring Maestro Pascal Roger and his accomplished duo partner, Barbara Binet.

Fast forward to May 2023, a pivotal moment unfolded in collaboration with Steinway & Sons. Maestro Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Artistic Director Matthieu Cognet meticulously selected the LVMH piano at the Steinway & Sons Factory in New York. Though the choice among five concert pianos might typically be an intricate decision, in this case, it evolved into a "love at first sight" narrative. The piano, distinguished within a mere 30 minutes, was then showcased through an impromptu recital, revealing its delicate, rich, and colorful sonic palette.

The culmination of this journey arrived in June 2023 when the LVMH piano found its new home at the Embassy of France. A momentous inauguration followed on November 16, 2023, as pianist Helene Tysman, in a highly attended recital, breathed life into the instrument. This event not only marked the inauguration of the LVMH piano but also the birth of the French-American Piano Society, celebrated in its inaugural recital at the Consulate of France on April 15, 2014, under the enchanting fingers of Helene Tysman.

LEADERSHIP BENEFACTOR

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton

FOUNDING DONORS CIRCLE

$20,000 and above

The Levine Music

$10,000 and above

Dr. Helene Petitjean and Dr. Mathieu Petitjean

$5,000 and above

The Staff of the Embassy of France

Archimed

Mrs. Calvin Cafritz

Doria And Calavino Donati, Tipple And Rose Tea Parlor Princeton

Harald Greve and Janis Sell

$2,000 and above

Anonymous

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Employee Giving Program

Patricia and Philippe Etienne

Rhona Wolfe Friedman, Esq. and Donald J. Friedman, Esq.

Dr. David Kosutic

David M. and Susan S. Thoms

Maggie Hua et Stanislas Vilgrain

$1,000

Gregory Bernstein and Anna Katalkina

Olivier Bogillot

Alexandra de Borchgrave

Larry Chertoff

Louis Dillais

Edwige Dorel-Torgue

Jeannette Abécassis-Elmalem

French-American Chamber of Commerce, Washington D.C.

Stephen and Laure Fuller

Garnier-Thiebaut USA

Tamara Haddad

Marianne J. Hart and Colin R. Hart

Kimberley A. Heatherington

The Hitchcock Hoagland Foundation in honor of Ambassador Phillippe Etienne

Resources USA Inc.

Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation

Jack and Ellette Kozak

Bénédicte and Jean-Philippe Krukowicz

Alexander Wolf Levy

Jodie McLean and Pierre de Lucy

Thais Mark and Sasha Mark, MD

Roxana Nikdjou-van der Mensbrugghe

Farha Mir, MD and Mitra Dowlatshahi, MD

Claire Mittaud | Theodore Pary

Nina Pillsbury

Cedric Sage

Thomas and Deborah Silverstein

Annie Simonian Totah, Founder & President of the Sami and Annie Totah Family Foundation

Michael L. White

Michel and Lucie Wormser

Marie Hélène et Daniel Zavala

Code of Conduct

It is the policy of the French-American Piano Society that all attendees of Society hosted recitals, events, and associated activities are expected to exhibit respectful, and ethical behaviors.

Please review our Code of Conduct Policy here.

Report Violations of the Policy here