Mosaïca: Marie Cantagrill premieres a new concerto

A three-day artist residency in the Ariège region brought together violinist Marie Cantagrill, composer Omar Yagoubi and five musicians from the Ariège Chamber Orchestra to prepare Mosaïca, a new concerto for violin and orchestra. Premiered on 10 October 2026 at the Church of Saint-Sernin in Le Mas-d’Azil, the project also received €2,000 in support from the Banque Populaire du Sud Foundation for culture in rural communities.

From rehearsal room to world premiere

A new musical work takes shape long before its first public performance. It develops through rehearsal, listening, adjustments and conversations between the composer and the musicians who bring the score to life.

That process was at the heart of an artist residency held in Le Mas-d’Azil, in southwestern France, from 8 to 10 October 2026. Violinist Marie Cantagrill worked with composer Omar Yagoubi on Mosaïca, his second concerto for violin and orchestra. Five musicians from the Ariège Chamber Orchestra joined the residency, which culminated in a world premiere on Saturday 10 October.

The programme extended beyond rehearsals. Open sessions, interactive workshops and visits involving school pupils and students created opportunities to discover how a musical work is developed and interpreted. Rather than encountering the concerto only at the final performance, participants could engage with the creative process itself.

A second chapter in an artistic partnership

Mosaïca continues a collaboration that began with L’Ariégeois, Yagoubi’s first violin concerto, premiered by Cantagrill in Foix in 2017. The new work develops that relationship through a different musical landscape, combining contrasting moods with references to the history and identity of its host village.

The concerto unfolds across three movements. The first explores a range of emotions, moving between dance-like rhythms, joy and introspection. Its changing character gives the violin a central role in connecting energetic passages with more reflective moments.

The second movement, entitled “Éloge de la simplicité” — “In Praise of Simplicity” — takes the form of a calm waltz. Its measured character provides a quieter contrast to the emotional shifts of the opening movement.

The third movement, “L’Azilien,” draws inspiration from the Cave of Le Mas-d’Azil and the Azilian prehistoric culture associated with the site. Childhood is another of its themes. The music therefore connects a contemporary composition with a place that carries a long human history.

This reference to prehistory is more than a geographical detail. It gives the work a relationship with the surrounding territory, while allowing its musical language to speak to audiences beyond the region.

Five musicians contribute to the residency

Cantagrill was joined by five instrumentalists from the Ariège Chamber Orchestra: Romuald Toïga on first violin, Enora Durando on second violin, Damien Bec on viola, Annick Paré on cello and Titouan Gomez on double bass.

Their participation brought the different instrumental voices together in preparation for the performance. The residency also highlighted the educational dimension of music-making. A demonstration by Damien Bec on how to hold a violin offered a practical introduction to instrumental technique and the gestures that underpin performance.

Such exchanges help make classical music more accessible, especially for younger audiences who may have limited opportunities to see professional musicians at work. They also reveal the collaborative nature of an orchestra, where listening and coordination are as important as individual skill.

By combining rehearsals with educational activities, the residency brought professional creation, music education and community engagement into the same programme.

€2,000 to support culture in rural communities

The project received €2,000 in financial support from the Banque Populaire du Sud Foundation. A cheque was presented during the event, highlighting the role of local funding in supporting artistic creation and access to culture in rural areas.

For communities outside major cultural centres, such initiatives can help bring professional artists and live music closer to residents. A residency can provide more than a performance: it can create opportunities for discussion, learning and direct contact with the people who make the music.

The financial contribution supported a project that combined the creation of a new concerto with public engagement and educational activities. It also drew attention to a broader cultural question: how can artistic innovation reach audiences beyond the largest cities?

There is no single answer. Sustained cultural life depends on artists willing to work with local communities, venues and organisations able to host them, educational partnerships and funding that helps turn an idea into a public event.

A premiere at the Church of Saint-Sernin

The residency concluded with the world premiere of Mosaïca at 5 p.m. on Saturday 10 October, at the Church of Saint-Sernin in Le Mas-d’Azil.

Those attending included Hervé Brabant, Prefect of Ariège; Sophie Pauzat, sub-prefect; and Raymond Berdou, Mayor of Le Mas-d’Azil. The event brought together the artistic project, local cultural life and institutional representatives.

For Cantagrill and Yagoubi, the premiere marked a new stage in a partnership that began with L’Ariégeois in 2017. This time, the music drew on contrasting emotions, a calm waltz and the prehistoric heritage of Le Mas-d’Azil, while the residency created space for learning and exchange.

Mosaïca was therefore more than a new concerto presented for the first time. It was also an example of how contemporary music can connect artistic collaboration, local heritage and public participation — including in rural communities far from the major concert halls.