Eight Cellos for an Essential Mission
The Cello8 cello octet was created in 2021 by cellist Raphaël Pidoux within the Talents & Violon'celles endowment fund and thanks to the patronage of Joël Rousseau.
Its mission is to enable young supported talents - or having been supported - by Talents & Violon'celles, to gain stage experience and professional visibility.
“ For the seven talented young cellists at the end of their studies or at the threshold of their professional lives, this is a tremendous opportunity to access the stage and the great repertoire.
This essential support from the Talents & Violon'celles endowment fund is in addition to the loan of instruments.
Raphaël Pidoux
The octet and its multiple polyphonies - halfway between the quartet and the small string orchestra - is the ideal formation to showcase the greatest number of cellists: in an eight-piece formation, the theme passes from one instrument to another, creating movement and spatializing the sound.
An Ensemble, Evolving by Nature, that Interprets a Repertoire Augmenté!
The composition of the Cello8 Octet is designed to evolve according to the young cellists' studies, their projects, their geographical availability, and the Talents & Violon'celles instrument loan program currently in place ; the aim is to support as many young musicians as possible, while creating a long-term group dynamic and an ambitious artistic project.
The musical potential of this cello octet is remarkably highlighted by the transcriptions that the great cellist Roland Pidoux has made for it. This new repertoire is meant to be listened to but also shared, as most of the scores for eight cellos are available at a very modest price in our store.
This spectacular chamber ensemble arouses a great deal of curiosity and enthusiasm among audiences, especially when performed by such young and talented musicians.
Joël Rousseau, a Music Lover Committed to the Octet of Talents & Violon'celles
Joël Rousseau, Chairman of the Strategic Council of the NGE construction group which he founded, has supported the Talents & Violon'celles octet since 2022 and financed its first recording, released by Mirare.
A private philanthropist, altruist and music lover, he sees his patronage as an essential act towards young people who need help, whether they are future engineers or young cellists in the making.
A generous benefactor of Talents & Violon'celles since 2018, he immediately embraced the project.
Joël Rousseau testifies: "I found there all the values that drive me. Bringing together transmission, talent, heritage, and culture is a wonderful idea, perfectly understandable, which creates meaning and makes us transmitters of knowledge."
Joël Rousseau also sponsored the construction of four cellos, including one built by the great luthier Francis Kuttner, and four bows which have enriched the collection of Talents & Violon'celles since 2019. In 2024 it was thanks in particular to him that Talents & Violon'celles was able to launch its early music department, for which he financed 3 instruments: a 7-string bass viol, a bass viol (the "ancestor" of the cello) and a treble viol.
Ode à la Nuit by Cello8,
Available on all Platforms
In January 2023, on the occasion of La Folle Journée de Nantes, a first album was released by Mirare under the title “Ode à la Nuit” with transcriptions for cellos written by Roland Pidoux.
The album is available on all platforms and in CD format.
... in concert
Upcoming dates
2026
July 31: Villa Carmignac in Porquerolles (83)
October 4: Théâtre de la Ville Sarah Bernhardt in Paris
Contact artist agent
Inès Ferrand-Pérez: 07 77 98 23 70 – ines@bande-passante.fr
Past concerts
2025
January 31st to February 1st: La Folle Journée de Nantes
March 27: Les Invalides – Paris
June 13: "Musiques" Festival in Saint-Félix-Lauragais (31)
July 2: Chambord Castle (41)
July 8: Rosa Musica Festival
July 29: Carmignac Foundation – Porquerolles (83)
July 31: Vézère Festival (19)
2024
February 1st to 3rd: La Folle Journée de Nantes
March 26: Musée d'Orsay
March 27: Domaine de La Garde – Bourg en Bresse
May 31: Beauvais International Cello Festival
June 15: Melle Festival
August 2 and 3: Pablo Casals Festival in Prades
September 18: Beaulieu Classic Festival – Beaulieu-sur-mer
November 3: Cello Biënnale Amsterdam
November 26: Les Invalides – Paris
December 15: Rotary Club of Aulnay-sous-Bois
2023
February 1-5 – Nantes: La Folle Journée
July 15 – Tourves: L'Écrin musical Festival
July 23 – Saint Paul de Vence: Saint Paul de Vence Festival
July 30 – Bauges: Music & Nature Festival
August 4 – Bazas: Music in the Bazadais region
August 5 – Nerac: Albret Music Festival
August 6 – Belaye: Cello Encounters Festival
August 12 and 13 – Puy Saint Martin: Adèle Clément Cello Festival
August 16 – Perros Guirec: Chamber Music Festival
Press review of the Cello8 octet
 La Manche Libre04.02.2026 |  Occitanie Tribune15.05.2025 |
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 forumopera.com03.05.2025 |  Radio Classique05.12.2024 |
 IDmediacannes19.09.2024 |  L'indépendant22.07.2024 |
 Arte06.02.2023 |  France Musique04.02.2023 |
 Le Monde03.02.2023 |  Le Figaro03.02.2023 |
 Ouest France01.02.2023 |  Le Point01.02.2023 |
 Les Sables Vendée Journal25.01.2023 |  Radio Vinci Autoroutes23.01.2023 |
 Radio Classique23.01.2023 |  France Musique21.01.2023 |
 QoBuz02.01.2023 |  France Musique08.12.2022 |
 ArtSixMic01.12.2022 |  Diapason16.02.2022 |
 France Musique03.02.2022 |  La Nouvelle République17.01.2022 |
 Ouest France21.08.2021 |  Le Télégramme05.08.2021 |
 Ouest France03.08.2021 |