8th edition Rhodes
4th edition Paris
Concert Katharsis, Mediterranean Sound Encounters
Dulci Jubilo Choir, Conductor: Christopher Gibert
Thomas Ospital, church organ
Chrysanthos Antoniou, violin
Date and Time: Friday, July 3, 2026 at 20:30
Venue: Church of Saint-Eustache, 2 Imp. Saint-Eustache, 75001 Paris
Reservation:
(free admission with reservation required)
Two contemporary creations: Katharsis by the Greek composer Savvas Karantzias and Hymnus by the French composer Christopher Gibert, brought together with the same artistic and spiritual impulse. Performed by Dulci Jubilo chamber choir, and accompanied by violin, percussion, and organ, this program offers a deeply intense sound experience.
Katharsis (2023-2024), for mixed choir, percussion, solo violin, and organ, is structured in nine movements like a vast meditative fresco. Dedicated to Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis, the piece builds a profound link between Greek and Estonian traditions, delving into inner dialogue and the universal dimension of musical expression. The violin and organ parts are improvised, offering the performers complete freedom and mirroring the shifting, unpredictable nature of the human soul.
In dialogue with this, Hymnus (2026) is inspired by a rare 13th-century Occitan-Cathar manuscript, blending texts from the New Testament with the "consolament" ritual. Through a minimalist yet vivid writing style, Christopher Gibert pursues a quest for light and simplicity. This is enriched by the poetry of Frank T’Hézan, creating a fragile bridge between ancient memory and modern voice.
This concert weaves a link between East and West, between heritage and creation, offering a unique musical experience that is both contemplative and profoundly human.
Concert « Polyphonia », A tribute to the art of choral music
Grenelle Choir
Alix Dumon-Debaecker, conductor
Chrysanthos Antoniou, violin
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4 at 15:00
Venue: Richelieu Amphitheatre, Sorbonne University, 17 rue de la Sorbonne - 75005 Paris
Reservation:
(free admission with reservation required; an introductory lecture will take place before the concert, attendance at 15:00 is mandatory)
Hades (2026), the new creation by Savvas Karantzias, follows the tradition of great choral works of spiritual inspiration, written from a totally contemporary point of view. Inspired by Odysseus’s journey and his descent into the Underworld, the work presents an intense dramaturgy, blending inner devotion with sonic exploration. It particularly stands out for the improvisational solo violin, which evokes the voices of the souls in Hades, expanding the poetic and narrative dimension of the musical work.
Similarly, the Mass in E-flat major (1878) by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger showcases the full richness of the Romantic choral tradition. Through its lucid writing and choral balance, this composition combines simplicity with expressive intensity, shifitng between contemplative reflection and powerful outbursts of deep spirituality.
The program also includes a presentation of the poetry collection Lieder (1877-1879) by Luise Adolpha Le Beau, a composer who remains little known today. Being a student of Rheinberger, she developed a delicate and expressive musical style for her poetic works. A remarkable figure of her era, she stood out for her sensitive lyricism and high artistic standards. In this way, the concert weaves a dialogue between myth and spirituality, through the lenses of tradition and creation.