Bocchino's trailblazing night out! Concert review by Gabriele B.

On Saturday November 17th, I had the pleasure of attending a Musique Démesurées concert given by the Orchestre d'Auvergne at the Chapelle des Cordeliers in Clermont-Ferrand.

It was a concert of 20^th century and contemporary music in which I could appreciate the musicians’ professionalism. They were able to truly reinvent how to use violins, violas, cellos and double basses...

The Orchestra’s director is the Spaniard Roberto Fores Veses. According to the programme notes, he has worked and studied music in all parts of Europe.

The first of the four pieces was Little Concerto for Strings which is one of the first composed by Englishman Jonathan Harvey.

Then we listened to Blaze, a work by young British composer Benjamin Ellin in which melodies seem to conflict. The effect was rather unique, helped along by accordionist Pascal Contet. This was the world premiere performance and the composer was in the audience.

The third work, Ombres opus 12, was by the Franco-Bulgarian André Boucourechliev. It was a tribute to Beethoven and there were several references to beethoven’s music in the work.

Finally, Claude Vivier’s Zipangu is inspired by Marco Polo’s voyages and by Japan (which was called “Zipangu” in the 15^th century).

I was a little sceptical about this kind of music before going to the concert because I thought it was more for people who really know about it. However, in the end, I actually had rather a good time, out-of-the-ordinary at least!