Gilles Diharce

One of the features of European music of the 17th century was the antagonism between the French and the Italian styles. Jean-Baptiste Lully was appointed to create a French alternative to Italian opera which conquered most of Europe. However, the antagonism did not confine itself to opera.

Soliste, compositeur, chef d’orchestre et pédagogue, Gilles Colliard est un musicien complet.

Liszt combined the whirlwind life of a virtuoso travelling all over Europe with a deep attachment to the Catholic faith and the Church.

Liszt combined the whirlwind life of a virtuoso travelling all over Europe with a deep attachment to the Catholic faith and the Church. While his brilliant technique and fiery interpretations made him an unparalleled virtuoso, his sacred music, for which he was less well known, represented what was dearest in his own eyes. From 1856 onwards, he devoted himself more particularly to this field and set about reforming religious music in order to restore it to its rightful place of honour, capable of meeting the demands of conveying the divine message and mystery. His musical discourse becomes sparer but is also profoundly innovative, with many individual turns of language and harmonic daring.

In 2008, DJ and globetrotter Gilles Peterson was approached by the melomaniac at the helm of Havana Cultura – an initiative to showcase and support Cuban creativity by Cuban rum maker Havana Club –, inviting him to Cuba to check out Havana’s underground music scene with a view to making an album. While some might associate Cuba simply with salsa or Buena Vista Social Club, there was a new generation of artists teeming with new sounds, waiting for an opportunity to reveal their talent to the world.

Soloist, composer, conductor and pedagogue, Gilles Colliard is a complete musician.

One of the features of European music of the 17th century was the antagonism between the French and the Italian styles. Jean-Baptiste Lully was appointed to create a French alternative to Italian opera which conquered most of Europe. However, the antagonism did not confine itself to opera.