Ensemble Contraste

What happens when scholarly music meets popular music?

The result is a delicious contrast in the name of this ensemble, created in 2000 and composed of virtuoso classical artists who have graduated from major institutions and prestigious international competitions.

To decomplex classical music, to mix genres and to provoke surprise in unprecedented concerts, that is the profound nature of this musical group. The cult of friendship, the diversity and spontaneity of the musicians in this ensemble, as well as the search for their own musical arrangements, allow for an original, demanding and accessible programme, from baroque and classical music to tango, musical comedy, jazz and contemporary creation.

From Classic Tango, which has been performed all over the world, to the musicals The Fairy Queen (2015), Joséphine Baker (2016), Georgia - Tous mes rêves chantent and Roméo & Juliette (2017), to its latest creation Schubert in love (2020), the productions and discography of this collective of versatile, committed and talented musicians have been unanimously acclaimed by the critics (Diapason d'Or, Choc Classica, RTL d'Or, Diamant Opéra, Coup de coeur FNAC, selection Mezzo, Radio Classique, France Inter. ..).

Under the artistic direction of Arnaud Thorette and the musical direction of Johan Farjot, the Ensemble Contraste performs in the most important French and European festivals and halls, and is established in the Hauts-de-France region. Contraste regularly collaborates with personalities from different horizons: the mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes, the composer Karol Beffa, the artists Magali Léger, Sandrine Piau, Philippe Jaroussky, but also Rosemary Standley, Albin de la Simone, Emily Loizeau, Timothée de Fombelle, Raphaël Imbert...

Convinced that an artist must be one of the actors of the social link, the Ensemble Contraste has been conducting for 10 years a vast mediation programme for vulnerable populations, particularly in the rural areas of the Pas-de-Calais. In partnership with secondary schools, children's social centres and local associations, it offers multidisciplinary artistic workshops throughout the year, leading to the creation of a participatory show. He is also involved in solidarity projects with the association SOS Village d'Enfants and the collective Quartier Partagé in the 10th arrondissement of Paris.

With its own record label (distributed by PIAS), Contraste has to its credit some twenty recordings, including two illustrated musical tales for young people: Georgia - Tous mes rêves chantent (T. de Fombelle-J. Farjot/A. de la Simone ©2016_ Gallimard Jeunesse), and Siam - au fil de l'eau (A. Thorette-J. Farjot©2020_Flammarion Jeunesse), which have been a great success with the public and the media. In September 2020, Schubert in Love (Alpha Classics) was released, a tribute to the composer Schubert, with the singer Rosemary Standley. This album is the subject of a major national and European tour until 2023.

Contraste is a member of PROFEDIM, FEVIS, SCPP (Société civile des producteurs phonographiques) and is a SACEM (Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique) publisher.

Juin 2021