Review: "The Cello for Everyone" Day at the Théâtre de la Ville – Les Abbesses in Paris

Oct 7

2 min read

On Sunday, October 4, 2026, the Talents & Violon’celles endowment fund kicked off its concert series for the 2026–2027 season at the Théâtre de la Ville – Les Abbesses. It was a day dedicated to excellence, transmission, and instrument making, where the cello resonated in all its forms before a warm and captivated audience.

A Morning at the Heart of Creation: "From Tree to Sound"

Starting at 11:00 AM, the stage of the Théâtre des Abbesses transformed into a unique meeting place between live music and fine crafts. Hosted with warmth and enthusiasm by Martin Hirsch, a passionate amateur cellist, the morning session "From Tree to Sound" offered a fascinating look into the life of an instrument.

Luthiers Roland Houël and Joël Klépal (Atelier Houël & Klépal) captivated the audience by revealing the secrets behind crafting a cello. From the meticulous selection of wood in the forest to the bending of the ribs performed live on stage, the audience followed every creative step. Thanks to an endoscope projecting live onto a large screen, the spectators even experienced a rare, immersive journey: traveling deep inside the soundboard to discover the instrument's intimate architecture (soundpost, bass bar, and vaults). A key highlight of this demonstration was the live presentation of the finished instrument to Martin Hirsch for the remainder of the concert!

Music naturally took over to illustrate this craftsmanship:

The Rising Generation in the Spotlight: An ensemble of 13 highly promising young cellists brilliantly performed Georg Goltermann’s Romance and Serenades Op. 119, Nos. 1 and 2.
Shared Passion: Seven amateur cellists from the Orchestre des Ondes Plurielles, accompanied for the occasion by Martin Hirsch, performed a repertoire filled with sensitivity (Coro a bocca chiusa from Puccini, the Pizzicato-Polka by Strauss, and Wolfram’s Aria from Wagner, transcribed by Roland Pidoux).

An Afternoon of Poetry: "Cello8 – Ode to the Night"

At 3:00 PM, the stage shifted to grace and enchantment with a performance by the cello octet Cello8. Under the artistic direction of Raphaël Pidoux, seven young virtuosos—playing on exceptional instruments loaned by our endowment fund—offered a poetic journey through nocturnal themes in the repertoire.

On stage: Raphaël Pidoux, Eliott Leridon, Irène Magloire, Soni Siecinski et Michelle Tang, Juliette Gaudin, Gabriel Guignier, Victor Lancelot-Mahé.

Featuring carefully crafted transcriptions by Roland Houël, the octet showcased the rich polyphony and deep sensuality of the cello. From the suspended melodies of Schubert (Die Nacht, Ständchen) to the dramatic accents of Dvořák (Rusalka, Legend), alongside pieces by Bizet, Brahms, Saint-Saëns, Augusta Holmès, Strauss, and Bloch, this intense concert elicited deep emotion and enthusiastic applause.

A Season That Is Only Just Beginning!

Talents & Violon'celles extends its warmest thanks to the teams at the Théâtre de la Ville, the luthiers, the artists, the amateur musicians, and all the patrons and donors who make these moments of sharing possible. We were delighted to have Marianne and Joël Rousseau, patrons of Cello8 and Talents & Violon'celles, join us, whose invaluable support has accompanied us for several years..