ModComFest 2025 Shines in Paris with a Night of Musical Discovery
The evening’s richly varied programme featured Petrossian’s ‘8.4, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra’ and ‘La lutte ardente du vert et de l’or’ for piano solo, alongside Claude Debussy’s seminal ‘Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune’ and György Ligeti’s ‘Étude pour piano’. Two further works by Petrossian, namely ‘Stilleven’ for solo violin and the world premiere of ‘Comme un feu dévorant…’ for soprano and viola, offered an especially personal glimpse into the festival’s dedicatee and composer-in-residence, whose distinctive musical language continues to seamlessly bridge the ancient and the modern.
Performing under the direction of Léo Margue, the Ensemble 2E2M, one of France’s foremost contemporary music ensembles, brought both precision and warmth to the stage, deftly navigating Petrossian’s intricate textures and shifting harmonic landscapes. They were joined by an exceptional cast of soloists, including Alexander Chaushian (cello), Chae-Um Kim (piano), Dorothée Nodé-Langlois (violin), Claire Merlet (viola), and Marie Soubestre (soprano).
The evening was marked by several striking moments, from the lyricism of Petrossian’s ‘Comme un feu dévorant…’ to the virtuosity of ‘Stilleven’, and the ethereal soundscape of Debussy’s timeless masterpiece. The composer’s ‘8.4, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra’, however, proved to be the event’s centerpiece, with an expansive structure and expressive cello writing that truly allowed Chaushian to reveal the full range of his inimitable artistry.
Reflecting on the performance, Konstantin Ishkhanov, President of ModComFest, observed that ‘this concert perfectly embodied the spirit of ModComFest, providing a dialogue between the traditions that shaped our musical identity and the creativity that continues to redefine it. It is always inspiring to see artists of this calibre breathe life into new music, especially within such a thoughtful and daring programme!”
As the evening drew to a close, audiences were left with a renewed appreciation for the depth and versatility of contemporary music, and, with two more concerts still to come, the festival continues to build momentum and anticipation, offering classical music lovers further opportunities to experience Michel Petrossian’s music in conversation with the broader currents of today’s contemporary landscape.
For all the latest details about ModComFest 2025, make sure to visit the official website at petrossian.modcomfest.com.
