Jean-Christophe Cholet, Alban Darche & Mathias Rüegg - Le tombeau de Poulenc (2018)

"It's not about prolonging Francis Poulenc's work or even using his codes and its colors, but really to invent an original piece that draws inspiration from listening to Poulenc's. "

Jean-Christophe Cholet and Alban Darche had long wanted to work together for a large ensemble project. This idea came to life in 2015, with the creation of the program Le Tombeau de Poulenc, gathering musicians from their two respective formations: Diagonal / JC Cholet and the Orphicube / Alban Darche.

This new project is very close to the universe of Mathias Ruëgg’s last records: Third Dream, with the Vienna Art Orchestra and Petites Visions (chamber music). He therefore joined Alban Darche and Jean-Christophe Cholet with great pleasure as a co-composer.

The idea is to create an original work inspired by Francis Poulenc’s one, to build his "Tombeau", like Maurice Ravel who created with his Tombeau de Couperin a timeless work, which deeply anchored its author in a French tradition initiated by François Couperin or Jean-Philippe Rameau.

The instrumentation creates a jazz orchestra or concertino sound, a form that will echo the work of Poulenc: the concerto for two pianos and orchestra. The idea is to alternate each of the three composers, as a concerto grosso would.

The fragrance, the spirit of Poulenc are here, but the project and its form are free. It's not about following in the footsteps of the master, but to soak up his work to invent a new and up-to-date music, free from any codification, and strong from mixing with all the other influences that fed the pencils of Jean-Christophe, Alban and Mathias.