Encore! The enchantment of MERITA concert season in France
Concerts | October 8, 2024
As autumn settles over the picturesque landscapes of France, MERITA French concert season organized by ProQuartet-Centre Européen de Musique de Chambre is captivating hearts and igniting passions.
After two summer concerts, with Quartet Gerhard at Collège franco-britannique de la Cité universitaire and with Atenea Quartet at Foyer International des Etudiantes, September saw two magical moments.
On 14 September, PuraCorda Ensemble performed its “Hidden Gems” project at Festival au Prieuré de Vivoin. Here are the words of Charlotte Bartissol, Director of ProQuartet: “Founded at the end of the 11th century by Benedictine monks, the priory at Vivoin, France, is rich in history and is now home to a Centre for Contemporary Art and a music festival.
It was in this majestic setting that the Pura Corda Quartet offered the public a concert dedicated to women composers. They played a varied program in the priory hall, which had been transformed into a cosy lounge for the occasion, where the audience could sit around tables and enjoy a drink while listening to the quartet’s music. The Pura Corda immediately established a close bond with the audience, exchanging ideas and enthusiastically presenting the pieces on the program as well as the short and long stories of these sometimes little-known female composers. Audiences of all ages appreciated their simplicity and talent.”
PuraCorda Ensemble, at Prieuré de Vivoin, 14 September 2024
A few days later, on 21 September 2024, Karski Quartet played “A string quartet out in nature” at 25e Rencontres Musicales in Seine-et-Marne. “We chose to invite the Karski Quartet” reports Charlotte Bartissol “for several reasons. As an incubator for young artists, we have always kept a close eye on the development of this young quartet, based in Belgium, whose audacity and taste for original programs have attracted us. Moreover, our Rencontres ProQuartet festival in Seine-et-Marne has been combining music, architectural heritage and the natural treasures of this region close to Paris for 25 years. The Karskis’ plan to combine music and nature immediately seduced us, and we offered the public a walk in the park of the majestic Château de Fontainebleau, one of the most famous monuments in French history. The walk was set to music, opening up new perspectives on the building and its gardens, and appealed to a very large family audience as part of the European Heritage Days.”
Karski Quartet, at Château de Fontainebleau, 21 September 2024
In conclusion, the French season of concerts is a vibrant celebration of chamber music, bringing together diverse atmospheres and exceptional talent from around Europe. One last exciting concert is coming before the end of the year with Meraki String Quartet at the Festival for young audiences in Marseille.