LA MAESTRA
COMPETITION
International Competition for Women Conductors
3rd edition | 14–17 March 2024
LA MAESTRA ACADEMY
ASSISTANAT ESA-PEKKA SALONEN – ORCHESTRE DE PARIS – EU-LEE NAM
ASSISTANAT ESA-PEKKA SALONEN – ORCHESTRE DE PARIS – EU-LEE NAM
- Édition 2024-2026
ASSISTANAT MAXIME PASCAL – LE BALCON – OLHA DONDYK
ASSISTANAT MAXIME PASCAL – LE BALCON – OLHA DONDYK
Le Balcon, ensemble musical
Maxime Pascal, direction musicale
Florent Derex, projection sonore
You Jung Han, violon solo
Olha Dondyk, assistante
D’après Symphonie fantastique op. 14, épisode de la vie d’un artiste (1830) d’Hector Berlioz libre adaptation pour orchestre de chambre (2013, commande du Festival Berlioz) d’Arthur Lavandier.
Creuser le sillon psychédélique de la Symphonie fantastique, c’était l’ambition de Bruno Messina, en commandant une nouvelle version du chef-d’œuvre de Berlioz à l’ensemble Le Balcon. Ce brillant collectif au rayonnement international s’est alors associé au compositeur Arthur Lavandier avec l’envie de bousculer les conventions. Conçue pour le concert de clôture du Festival Berlioz en 2013, cette Fantastique actualise, élargit et réinterprète avec brio le matériau original en conservant son argument littéraire. Via d’astucieuses textures orchestrales, on plonge dans cinq mouvements comme cinq chapitres instrumentaux, au cœur des visions d’un artiste obsédé par son amour. Colorée par la participation exceptionnelle d’ensembles amateurs du Val-d’Oise, associés aux musicien.nes professionnel.les, et dirigée par Maxime Pascal – l’un des meilleurs chefs d’orchestre de sa génération – cette recréation déploie toute l’énergie théâtrale de la symphonie, fidèle à l’esprit berliozien.
- Édition 2024-2026
NEWS
Joint interview: Claire Gibault, Nathalie Stutzmann, Judith Chemla
La Maestra 2024 is…
Discover the 3 finalists of La Maestra 2024!
THE STORY
Why create a conducting competition – with a complementary Academy – open only to women? A legitimate question, perhaps, given that the first signs of changing attitudes towards women conductors are becoming apparent in some parts of the world.
But while more and more women conductors are enjoying successful careers, deeply entrenched sexist discrimination is sadly still a very-present obstacle for many.
With La Maestra International Competition & Academy the Paris Mozart Orchestra and the Philharmonie de Paris are together seeking to unite the international musical world behind a strong commitment to women conductors, encourage vocational aspiration among women and offer the youngest among them unprecedented levels of support.
For there is yet more to be done. The talent is there, in all its abundance and variety. It is now up to all of us to give women orchestral conductors the visibility and support they deserve.
PARIS MOZART ORCHESTRA
Founded by Claire Gibault in 2011, the Paris Mozart Orchestra is a flexible ensemble varying in size and instrumentation according to the demands of each project. Through challenging and innovative programming, the PMO champions both classical and contemporary music, while advancing the accessibility of the arts in a generous spirit of open-hearted partnership.
PHILHARMONIE DE PARIS
Listen, watch, learn, discover and practice music in every form. The Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris aims at offering spaces where the greatest ensembles play alongside young musicians and children just starting out in music. It encompasses a new building designed by Jean Nouvel (called Philharmonie) and the current Cité de la musique, created by Christian de Portzamparc. With its numerous spaces, resident ensembles and innovative artistic mission, it is a cultural centre that is truly unique in the world, bringing music awareness and learning to a diverse public.