A former music journalist, David Sanson* is also an author, a musician with a dual rock and classical culture, and artistic director of the fledgling MétaMusiques festival, whose second edition will take place in Cognac from May 28 to 30. More than ever, this seasoned programmer defends the confrontation and cross-fertilization of aesthetics. He presents us with a 2021 edition spared from the pandemic. 

"MétaMusiques' programming aims to show unexpected meeting points... and blur the lines!"

"My state of mind? We're delighted and above all relieved that the festival can go ahead with indoor concerts. We had to adapt and cancel two dates to fit in with the curfew, but the main thing is that this second edition can go ahead. Continuity is important for a young festival. When the Martell Foundation, a patron of the arts and crafts, asked me to think about a festival in Cognac, I wanted us to rediscover a certain artisanal dimension, this notion of craftsmanship. The MétaMusiques program had to encourage reflection on traditions: written, oral, learned, popular... This festival had to encourage encounters, without ever compartmentalizing. With several concerts organized over a short period of time, a festival is the ideal place to show the often unexpected points of convergence between so-called "learned" and "popular" music. Show where they meet, but also blur the lines! 

This second edition is thus marked by a strong presence of traditional music in various forms: many of the guest musicians are experimenting, researching and working on folklore. In the program she has concocted for us, the charismatic Czech violinist and actress Iva Bittova, a real star in her country, will perform Balkan folk music as well as pages by Janacek. Romain Baudouin, for his part, will dialogue on an old 1930 instrument, with voice recordings collected decades ago, weaving a timeless sonic blues.
Baroque music will also be present, with a recital of Purcell arias by visual artist and singer Laurent Cerciat. I've also invited harpsichordist Maude Gratton and her baroque trio Il Convito, who will take us on a vast tour of popular traditions from the Renaissance to the... ^20th century.

One of the highlights of MétaMusiques 2021 is Chloé 's concert with marimba virtuoso Vassilena Serafimova, who have been collaborating together since 2016. Together, they decompartmentalize the worlds of electro clubs and classical music: their duo brings together machines and percussion, at the crossroads of electronics and acoustics.

We'll also be offering a concert at dawn, with pianist and visual artist Mélaine Dalibert, who, weather permitting, will accompany the sunrise with her meditative and aptly named "Musique pour le lever du jour". A beautiful moment in perspective, performed in situ !

Another highlight is " Open Symetry ",Ensemble 0 and Eklekto 's encounter with post-minimalist New York composer Tristan Perich, well known for his dizzying sound installations: three vibraphonists, 20 loudspeakers and perpetual movement in the form of sonic spirals.

The local dimension is very important: most of the artists programmed come from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The festival lasts two and a half days, which is short, intense and adapted to a town the size of Cognac. MétaMusiques offers repertoires and experiences that are a real step away from what most people are used to hearing. I'd like to stress that all concerts are free of charge, all you have to do is register. No excuse to be curious! For the first edition, despite the bad weather, we were delighted to welcome 1000 people. We hope to welcome more this year... "

Find all the information about the festival here.

Interview by Suzanne Gervais

* David Sanson has programmed at the Collège des Bernardins, the Santarcangelo dei Teatri Festival, the Palais de Tokyo, the Ateliers Médicis and Monumenta at the Grand Palais. He is a contributor toHémisphère son.