Canticum Novum

Founded in 1996 by Emmanuel Bardon, Canticum Novum explores the repertoires of early music by forging connections between Western Europe and the cultures of the Mediterranean basin, at the crossroads of Christian, Jewish, and Moorish heritages. Through the rediscovery and interpretation of this music, the ensemble fosters a dialogue between European, Mediterranean, and Eastern musical traditions, including Afghan, Turkish, Persian, Arab, Sephardic, Armenian, and Cypriot repertoires.

Beyond its musical approach, Canticum Novum places the human experience and intercultural exchange at the heart of its artistic project. Its productions explore the concepts of identity, oral tradition, transmission, and memory. This music, shaped by eight centuries of encounters and exchanges among peoples, bears witness to the richness of cultural exchanges and the vitality of a shared heritage.

The ensemble’s programs explore diverse regions and heritages: Spain’s “three cultures” with *Paz*, *Salam & Shalom*, and *Al-Basma*; the Mediterranean basin with *Kypros*, *Laudario*, *Canti di Gioia*, *T(h)races*, and *Emzara*; the Silk Road with *Nara*; and the Ottoman Empire with *Aashenayi*, *Topkapi*, *Ararat*, and *Sama-ï*. The ensemble brings together between three and fifteen musicians, depending on the project and configuration.

In recent years, Canticum Novum has also been developing hybrid artistic forms in which music engages in dialogue with other disciplines. Narrative and music intertwine notably in *Hassan le Voyageur* and the cycle dedicated to mysticism, while dance enriches productions such as *Kósmos*. This openness is also reflected in collaborations with other artistic teams, such as *Kaldûn*, created with the Nomade in France company at the CDN in Sartrouville, which has resulted in more than 80 performances in France.

Alongside its concert programs, the ensemble develops performances for all ages featuring unique stage forms and dreamlike visual worlds: *Hayim Toledo 1267*, a musical tale for shadow theater; *Bülbül*, a musical journey through the Mediterranean; *Tapanak*, a visual epic; *Nour*, a dance narrative; and *Aurore Express*, a new production scheduled for 2027.

Currently in residence at the Opéra-Théâtre de Saint-Étienne, Canticum Novum also reinforces its ties to the local community through the Festin Musical, a festival of early music and world music held annually in the Loire region since 2009. The ensemble also carries out numerous outreach and educational initiatives aimed at young audiences, in collaboration with cultural and educational institutions, notably the Noirlac Cultural and Community Center and La Mégisserie in Saint-Junien.

Canticum Novum gives more than forty concerts each year in France and abroad. Regularly invited to leading festivals such as the Festival de Radio France, La Folle Journée in Nantes and Tokyo, the Festival d’Ambronay, the Festival de la Chaise-Dieu, the Festival Via Aeterna, and the Festival de Sylvanès; the ensemble also performs on major national stages, including the theaters of the Châtelet, Melun-Sénart, La Roche-sur-Yon, Montélimar, and Cherbourg, as well as the opera houses of Lille and Clermont-Ferrand.

Its discography includes seven albums released by Label Ambronay: *Paz, Salam & Shalom* (2011), *Aashenayi* (2015), *Ararat* (2017), *Laudario* (2019), *Al-Basma* (2021), *Samâ-ï* (2022), and *Shiruku* (2023). Several of his programs have also been recorded for television by Les Films de la Découverte.

Canticum Novum receives funding from the Ministry of Culture—DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the Loire Department, and the City of Saint-Étienne. The ensemble occasionally receives support from ADAMI, CNM, and SPEDIDAM.

November 2026