Apolline Khou is a harpsichordist and pianist with an eclectic sensibility, embracing varied influences with a free spirit, and known for her poetical and passionate interpretations. She studied in France and at the Royal College of Music, where she is currently the Historical Keyboards Fellow. Apolline performs both as a soloist and a chamber musician, in the UK and abroad. Her past performances include concerts at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and recitals for HRH King Charles III and for His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Peace in the world and peace in my mind!

What is your greatest fear?

To lose the people I love.

What is your superpower / superhero ability?

I can decide to fall asleep anywhere and anytime (almost)!

What non-musical hobbies or interests do you have?

I love literature, poetry, philosophy, and the sea.

If you could meet anyone from the past, who would it be?

I would love to meet Leonardo Da Vinci and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Around 3 or 4 years old , trying to play some tunes I knew on my little toy piano.

Who is your favourite composer, and why?

I think I have to choose JS Bach, whose music is just eternally beautiful, and gives me joy and inspiration everytime I hear or play it.

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_{Johann Sebastian Bach: Chromatic Fantasy - Apolline Khou, harpsichord}

How has classical music influenced your life outside of performing?

Listening to music, and practicing, or playing for myself, helps me a lot when I don't feel my best, and when I do, music makes me feel even better. I just can't imagine a world without music in general.

What’s so special about HIP/early music performances?

It really depends on the players, but early music performances tend to be focused on active and subtle listening, the essence and sense of 'live' playing, which are sometimes lost in some modern performances.

Describe a particularly challenging or rewarding moment in your musical journey.

Every day is a challenge and a reward. I love what I do, even if the journey is not always easy. We have to accept the unexpected - it can be surprising in both ways.

What made you choose the harpsichord?

I came to it quite late, even though I had always listened to early music. One of my piano teachers was also a harpsichordist. He made me try the harpsichord, and I surprisingly - and immediately - felt something very natural with the instrument.

Your upcoming Continuo-funded programme with the Serpentine Trio, 'Le Labyrinthe', is an audiovisual project with French Baroque music inspired by La Grotte de Versailles. Can you tell us more about this project, and how the idea came about?

We will keep the mystery and not reveal too much for now... Taking inspiration from the Grotte de Versailles, we are creating a space in collaboration with visual artists, like a shell, where the expression and creativity will have no boundaries, in contrast to the way works of classical music are often performed today.

One of our other inspirations for this is the Labyrinth of Versailles which contained 39 fountains, each corresponding to a scene from Aesop's fables, and each with a different moral lesson. It is definitely going to be a very special project, where even we expect the unexpected! It is really meaningful to be able to create this with complete freedom, thanks to the generosity of Continuo Foundation.

Do you have any other projects or concerts coming up in the UK and abroad?

In the UK, I have two concerts during the summer at St Cecilia's Museum in Edinburgh, both with a wonderful French 18th century harpsichord by Baillon. One with my group Azur Ensemble (a previous Continuo grantee) on 14 June, and one solo harpsichord recital, on 9 August, where I will present my programme 'Clair-Obscur' which includes some of my transcriptions of Marais and Weiss's pieces.

In July, I also have a (sold out) duo concert at the Cobbe Collection, with a very beautiful romantic programme for cello and piano, where I will have the chance to play on an original 19th century piano.

In between these concerts, I am going to Italy with the Royal College of Music, and to France and Austria for other exciting projects!