PABLO CASALS, ONE MUSICIAN WITHOUT BORDERS

Pablo Casals was born on 29th December, 1876 at Vendrell (Catalonia) into a family of musicians. His father was an organist and a music teacher.
At the age of four, Pablo Casals learned to play the piano and then began the violin and the flute. At twelve, he discovered the cello which he studied at the municipal music school in Barcelona. His father would often accompany him to Barcelona to find music scores. One day, Pablo discovered by chance the Six Suites of JS Bach in a pile of dusty papers. He practised the Suites for 12 years before daring to play them in public. “Gradually, as I continued studying the Suites, an unknown world of grandeur and beauty opened before my eyes. The emotions I have experienced during this long process are among the purest and most intense of my life as an artist. “

MICHEL LETHIEC, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The french clarinettist Michel Lethiec is considered to be one of the most eminent figures on the world-wide classical musical scene. Besides his numerous concert and festival performances, he is also devoted to teaching and participates actively in the research and the distribution of the repertoire. He has played as a soloist and chamber musician with the most eminent performers and the most famous orchestras.

Devoted to contemporary music, he has performed premières of numerous pieces and concertos by composers such as: Penderecki, Corigliano, Denisow, Maratka, Ballif, Landowski, Decoust, Fourchotte, Narita, Brotons, Giraud, Lee…