One of the fastest rising musicians of his generation, Hallak is a world renowned pianist and opera coach.
Throughout his career he has collaborated with world top artists, notably Francois Le Roux, Natalie Dessay, Sheri Greenawald, Lyubov Petrova, Angela Brown, Susan Platts, Measha Brueggergosman; and served as official accompanist for master classes with James Levine, Renata Scotto, Martina Arroyo, Diana Soviero, Martin Issep and Rudolph Pernay among others. He was selected by soprano Jessye Norman as the official accompanist for the 2004 Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
As a native French speaker, Hallak has become one of the foremost authorities in French diction with a repertoire encompassing virtually the entire operatic and mélodie repertoire.
Hallak is based in New York City and keeps an active Masterclass, freelance coaching and recital schedule as well as having been “Principal Coach” and “Music Advisor” for Glimmerglass Opera. Upcoming performances include vocal and solo recitals in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Iceland, New York, Toronto and Winnipeg, Canada as well as Master Classes in Cleveland, Winnipeg and Reykjavik.
-Piano
Before his work as collaborative pianist, Hallak maintained an extensive schedule as a solo recitalist and orchestral soloist as well as a chamber musician appearing on some of the world’s most important stages; including the Paris Opera Bastille (main stage), the Metropolitan Opera (main stage)as well as prestigious institutions such as the Cleveland Art Song Festival. His first CD, dedicated to the Jascha Heifetz violin/piano transcriptions with award-winning violinist Leor Maltinski, was released in 1998.
Hallak studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he received the Premier Prix the Piano, and premier prix de musique de chambre. He completed further studies in Mons (Diplome supérieur de piano Avec Distinction) and in the Netherlands, at the Maastricht Konservatorium where he completed an Uitvoeren Musicus (Doctorate) with Highest Honors. In addition to receiving grants from the Fifty-One Club and the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Hallak is both a Rotary Scholar.
Hallak made his New York debut at Merkin Hall in March 2003 with the New York Festival Chamber Music Society as well as Carnegie Hall debut (Weill Hall) with Tamara Mumford, Leah Wool and the Alianza Quartet.