For the centenary of Debussy’s death on 25 March 2018, French actor Pascal Rénéric, pianist Momo Kodama and baritone Josep-Ramon Olivé are offering a programme interweaving a selection of the composer’s critics and excerpts from his correspondence, with solo piano pieces and melodies.

The concert aims at revealing the composer’s rich and singular style in an era where the worlds of literature, visual arts and music were interacting to create exceptional artistry. ‘Claude, are you there?’ strives to revive the composer’s spirit, as if the man, as well as the musician, would reappear to tell us about his music.

Together with pianist Momo Kodama*: one of the finest exponents of French music at the turn of the century, and Spanish baritone, Josep-Ramon Olivé: a French melodie specialist, the actor and Artistic Director, Pascal Rénéric, who recently appeared as Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme in a production by Stage Director Denis Podalydès, has devised a minimal, yet introspective, staged concert. Each piece is interpreted as an echo of Debussy’s reflections on both his music and the creative process, enhancing his attachment to freedom, nature and poetry.

* She has just released a recording of Debussy’s Etudes, ‘Point and Line’ for the German label ECM, recently nominated at the Grammy Awards.

HIGHLIGHT FROM THE SHOW

THE CALENDAR

Pascal Rénéric, actor and artistic director

The French actor started with improvisation and attended classes at the Théâtre National de Chaillot, whilst studying sciences. After completing his courses at the Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique, he started his career in earnest in 2001, working with renowned stage directors such as Jacques Lassalle, Jean-Marie Besset, Gilbert Désveaux, Vincent Macaigne, Philippe Adrien and Georges Lavaudant. He played the title-role in Molière’s Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme in a production staged by Denis Podalydès, which was premiered at Peter Brook’s Théâtre des Bouffes-du-Nord in 2012, and toured the project worldwide for following five years. Pascal Rénéric was nominated at the Molières’ in the best young talent category in 2004.

Momo Kodama, piano

Momo Kodama was born in Japan and raised in Germany, then France, where she still resides. Since receiving First Prizes at both the CNSM in Paris and the ARD Competition in Münich, she has performed with the most renowned orchestras in Berlin, Boston, Münich, Tokyo and Paris, under the baton of Seiji Osawa, Eliahu Inbal and André Prévin. She performs in recital and chamber music at the Verbier, Marlboro, Lucerne, La Roque d’Anthéron, Enesco, Tivoli, Bad Kissingen Fesyivals.... Her repertoire encompasses works from Bach to contemporary composers, with a particular dedication to French modern repertoire (Ravel, Debussy, Messiaen) as well as Japanese music. Momo records for the German label ECM, her latest CD, ‘Point and Line’, features studies by Debussy and Hosokawa and was selected as ‘best instrumental CD’ by the BBC Music Magazine in June 2017.

Josep-Ramon Olivé, baritone

Born in Barcelona, Josep-Ramon Olivé graduated from the Guildhall School in London with a Gold Medal and won First and Audience Prize at the Handel Singing Competition. A much sought-after singer in his own country on both the opera and concert platforms, Josep-Ramon has a particular strength in baroque music – he performs in the best halls and with remarkable ensembles such as La Capella Reial de Catalunya directed by Jordi Savall – and recital, especially French and Spanish melodies. He is now touring with William Christie as part of Le Jardin des Voix. A 2018/2019 ECHO/Rising Star, Josep-Ramon will be giving recitals with piano in the best European concert halls in Vienna, Berlin, Barcelona, Paris and London.