Emmanuel Pahud

Emmanuel Pahud stands among today’s most prolific and celebrated flutists. Renowned for his extraordinary versatility, his repertoire spans from the Baroque era to contemporary works, extending into jazz. Born in Geneva and raised across Baghdad, Paris, Madrid, and Rome, Pahud fell in love with the flute at age four. Following award-winning studies at the Paris Conservatory and early principal positions in Basel and Munich, he joined the Berlin Philharmonic as principal flutist in 1992 at the invitation of conductor Claudio Abbado. Pahud regularly collaborates with world-class ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, while maintaining prominent chamber partnerships with Eric Le Sage, Hélène Grimaud, and Yefim Bronfman. Beyond classical music, he has earned acclaim in jazz through big band performances and collaborations with pianist Jacky Terrasson. Named a Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2009, Pahud boasts an extensive discography of over 50 recordings across EMI, Naïve, and—since 2013—Warner Classics. His album Ceremony (2026) showcases concertos by Prokofiev, Hosokawa, and Rouse.