Johann Blanchard discovered more than twenty cartons packed with musical scores, including unpublished manuscripts and printed editions long out of print, in a relative's garage. The young pianist quickly realized just what treasures had come to light. They included a great many pieces by Cécile Chaminade, a pianist and composer who was very popular during her lifetime. And so for his solo debut on MDG Blanchard decided to present a most highly demanding look at the oeuvre of this extraordinary musician. Chaminade enjoyed an enormous, worldwide reputation: in England she was received by Queen Victoria, after her first visit to the United States numerous Chaminade Societies were founded, and in her native France she was admitted to the Legion of Honor – the first female composer to be so honoured. Johann Blanchard has close ties to Cécile Chaminade. His father, he too a concert pianist, studied with the Cortot pupil Wilfrid Maggiar, who dedicated himself almost exclusively to Chaminade's music especially during the last years of his life.