Ozymandias (pianist)

Ozymandias
Ozymandias
Background information
Birth name	Christophe Terrettaz
Born	6 April 1971 (age 53); Switzerland
Genres	Neoclassical
Occupation(s)	Composer; Pianist
Instrument	Piano
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Terrettaz Records, Ramses Records, World Serpent, Weisser Herbst
Website	www.ozymandias.ch

Ozymandias is the name of a musical project by neo-classical Swiss pianist Christophe Terrettaz.

Biography

Ozymandias is the pseudonym of the pianist and composer Christophe Terrettaz.

After several years studying classical piano, Christophe Terrettaz starts to compose. His first work, "Isolement", is produced in 1996 by the German label "Weisser Herbst".

His second album, "Ahara", is released in 1998 by the cult label World Serpent Distribution.

In 1999, Mark Ellis of "Elijah's Mantle" and Christophe Terrettaz collaborates on "The Soul Of Romanticism'" a spoken-word album based on poems of Shelley, Byron, Keats, Wordsworth and Coleridge. This work exposes the elements of romanticism through the voice of Ellis Mark and the music of Ozymandias.

The following year Christophe Terrettaz creates "Karnak", a series of compositions inspired by the Egyptian site of same name. The work is very well received, with Japanese director Ryuichi Hiroki choosing it as the musical theme for his movie Vibrator, a film presented in avant-premiere to the 60th Mostra of Venice.

In September 2001, Ozymandias, through World Serpent Distribution, releases his fifth album Layla. For this opus, Christophe Terrettaz draws inspiration from a number of films from independent cinema, including Un soir après la guerre of Rithy Panh, Okaeri of Makoto Shinozaki and Buffalo 66 of Vincent Gallo.

Three years later Ozymandias creates his darkest album yet, Les Doutes Eternels, a reflection on human condition and genocide.

2007 brings yet another opus, "Absolute". This seventh album of Ozymandias is animated by the aspects of the world and its people that Christophe Terrettaz admires.

In April 2008, after eight years without concerts, Ozymandias comes back on stage for two shows in Tokyo. Five months later, a new album inspired by his journeys invites you to discover his love for the Orient. The beauty and strength, depth of feelings as well as human folly is the essence of “Les Rêves Orientaux” (Oriental Dreams).

In February 2009, Christophe, invited Kelli Ali to Switzerland, to collaborate with him on an album inspired by the short stories of the Gothic horror writer, Mary Shelley, and following several sessions between London and Switzerland, this haunting collection was eventually completed, with Kelli writing and performing the lyrics and vocal arrangements and Christophe writing and performing the piano music. "A Paradise Inhabited by Devils" was released in November 2010. Two titles of this album are used in the Japanese movie Keibetsu.

2012 marks the release of his album Antipodes. Produced without any promotion in order to be in harmony with the theme of the album which means completely against current market trend today. Antipodes is a reflection on the current world where superficial excess and money take everything in its path.

"Nos Années Troubles" is realised in October 2014.

April 2017 - Three years after the album Nos Années Troubles (Our Troubled Years) and after 15 million plus streams on Spotify for the track "I Miss You"- Ozymandias returns with his new album "Dans Mon Monde" (In My World), composed with influences from both Asia and Europe.

His thirteenth album, started in February 2018 and released in December 2020, is titled 101 VISAGES (101 FACES).

Discography

Albums

101 Visages 2020
Dans Mon Monde 2017
Nos Années Troubles 2014
Antipodes 2012
A Paradise Inhabited By Devils with Kelli Ali 2010
Les Rêves Orientaux Ramses CD 07 2008
Absolute Ramses CD 06 2007
Les Doutes Eternels (Eternal Doubts) Ramses CD 05 2004
Layla Ramses CD04 2001 World Serpent Distribution
Karnak Ramses CD03 2000 World Serpent Distribution
The Soul of Romanticism with Elijah's Mantle (Da Nova Da Capo DNDC 013 CD) 1999 World Serpent Distribution
Ahara WSCD 018 1998 World Serpent Distribution
Isolement EFACD 12736-2 1996 Weisser Herbst Production

Compilations

Der Seelen Tiefengrund Vol.5 / Angelwings, Zoomshot, 2002-EFA "Comment l'oublier ?"
Cantara 4 /Angelwings, Zoomshot, 2002-EFA " Seul au monde"
Cantara 3 /Angelwings, Zoomshot media entertainment, Köln, 2001, Germany EFA 61611-2, " Premier Pylône"
Cantara / Angelwings, Zoomshot media entertainment, Köln, 1998, Germany EFA 61611-2, "Le départ de Diana R"
Mask of the People, Ramses records CD 01 2000 World Serpent Distribution, unpublished: DE PORT MORESBY A HOSKINS

Soundtracks

IDEA Inc. Tokyo, Japan
- A Ryuichi Hiroki film

External links