French composer and pianist Lucas Debargue joins us for this mini-episode of REMOTE with a couple words on some of his pandemic-projects, reading list, and the importance of emphasizing our similarities rather than differences.
How have you been coping with this lockdown?
I faced it as a “forced break”, using this opportunity to take time to rest, learn and compose music.
What sort of digital initiatives have you been involved in or planning, in lieu of live performance?
I was invited to play a concert for a series behind closed doors organized by medici.tv : “Rendez-vous à Paris”. The series is shot in the beautiful concert hall of the Fondation Singer-Polignac. I created a special French program for it, half of it being contemporary music.
What are some words of wisdom that’s helped you get through this pandemic?
I read a lot of classic literature! It would be hard to pick one quote from the loads of texts I have read. I always rely on the wisdom of my favorite writers, not only in particularly stressful and unpredictable times like the ones we’re now facing.
Any specific books, films, or TV on the go?
Books: I went back to the 17th century French writers : Racine, La Fontaine, Molière.
Films: Eric Rohmer movies, Pasolini, Orson Welles, Clouzot…
With everything that’s going on in North America in regard to race and #BlackLivesMatter, what are some of the changes you’d like to see in your performing arts community when it comes to racial biases and problems with inclusivity?
I am very attentive to what’s going on, and would be happy to see things change, of course. The most important thing for me when humans work together, is that they can only get stronger by developing their common points rather than their differences. Art isn’t here to separate us, but rather to remind us how much we’re all brothers and sisters.
For more chats with artists in social isolation, read on HERE.
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