 He took first prize at both the Viotti International Music Competition in Vercelli and the Barcelona Competition in 1967.He then took third prize at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Competition (ex-aequo with Vladimir Viardo) in Paris in 1971, securing an international career.In 1970 he founded a piano trio with Jean-Jacques Kantorow and Philippe Muller with whom he continues to perform.