17 November 2023

11:30 – 12:15

Amphithéâtre Faure

Fabien Waksman

Fabien Waksman is one of the most important French composers of his generation. He has received numerous awards for his work and his career. Winner of the Victoires de la Musique in 2023, he received the André Caplet prize for musical composition from the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 2011, then the Sacem grand prix for symphonic music the following year in the young composer category. In 2021, he received the René Dumesnil prize from the Académie des Beaux-Arts. In 2022, he received the Grand Prix Lycéen des Compositeurs from the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Fabien Waksman has explored a wide range of instrumental formations, from chamber music to large orchestra and opera. His music is performed by leading symphony orchestras and soloists at prestigious festivals. Passionate about the sciences, he regularly collaborates with scientists such as paleontologist Jean-Sébastien Steyer and cosmologist Jean-Philippe Uzan, with whom he has just conceived a saxophone concerto in homage to the conquest of space: A Dream for Artemis. Fabien Waksman teaches harmony at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris.

Conference: What are the different natures of musical energy?

Music is said to soften the blow. It’s used in art therapy to heal. Whether we need comfort or want to let off steam, whether we’re celebrating or mourning, music accompanies us through life like a faithful friend. But how does it ensure that we always find a companion along the way? Music conceals a wide range of energies, from a simple pulse to the power of a full orchestra or the drama of an opera. Each emotion we attribute to the music we listen to is like a fragment of energy striking our hearts and minds. This energy expresses itself through different channels and voices, which we will try to identify during this conference.