News

A spotlight on contemporary musical creation with Ensemble 2e2m: an exploration of the musical world and creative approaches of Michel Petrossian, composer of the film En Fanfare (2024).

Friday, September 26, 2:00 PM
Salle Gabriel Fauré
Contemporary workshop by Corinne Schneider

Wednesday, October 1, 2:00 PM
Salle Gabriel Fauré
Cello masterclass by Alexander Chaushian

Thursday, October 2, 8:00 PM
Auditorium Marcel Landowski
Concert by Ensemble 2e2m
With the participation of Zacharie Joly (clarinet student), Pacôme Savart-Debergue and Kim Ballesta (violin students)

The ModComFest concert was held on 20 September 2025 at the Petit Palais Auditorium in the heart of Paris. Entitled "Chanter l'icône" ("Singing the Icon"), the programme for a twelve-voice vocal ensemble and two tzenatzils (Ethiopian percussion instruments) offered an evocative journey inspired by the icon "All Creation Rejoices in Thee" by the Cretan iconographer Franghias Kavertzas (active c. 1615–1648), with music composed by Michel Petrossian.

Drawing on the original hymn by John Damascene, which also served as the foundation for the icon, the work unfolded as a rich dialogue between history, spirituality, and contemporary creativity.

The performance, given by the Musicatreize vocal ensemble under the direction of Roland Hayrabédian, captivated the audience with its intensity and depth, bringing Petrossian’s fascination with sacred tradition vividly to life. Complementing the music, Raphaëlle Ziadé, curator of the museum’s Byzantine collection, provided illuminating commentary on the icon’s imagery, which was gradually revealed through the video art of Samuel Bester. The visual and spatial dimension of the evening was further enhanced by a set design created by Toni Casalonga.

Michel Petrossian, composition and
libretto
Anaïs de Courson, stage direction
Léo Margue, musical direction
Ensemble Contrechamps
Namur Chamber Choir
Cappella Mediterranea
Feras Charestan, qanoun

Vincent Lhermet, accordion
Coproduced by La Cité BleueGeneva,
Ensemble Contrechamps, Chœur de
chambre de Namur, Cappella Mediterranea
Mediterranea and the Aga Khan
the Aga Khan (AKMP)

https://lacitebleue.ch/evenement/job-le-proces-de-dieu/

https://www.opera-online.com/fr/articles/la-cite-bleue-devoile-deja-sa-saison-2024-2025

Presentation of "Timkat" for large ensemble, in a dialogue imagined by musicologist Cora Joris. Ensemble Intercontemporain, conducted by Léo Margue.
Philharmonie de Paris
Video shooting by Jérémie Schellaert.
Sound engeneer : Lucas Joseph.

Ensemble Intercontemporain, conductor: Léo Margue

Video Shooting by Jérémie Schellaert at Le Studio of la Philharmonie de Paris.
Sound engeneer Lucas Joseph.

Commissioned by Maison de la Musique Contemporaine
Editions musicales de l'Artchipel