Biography
The Ensemble Monsolo began life in 2005 as a string quintet with double bass, while its members were still studying at the Paris Conservatory (Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris (CNSM)). Monsolo has had the opportunity to study under eminent musicians such as Jens McManama, Jean Mouillère, Michel Strauss, Alain Meunier, Claire Désert, the Maggini Quartet, and recently has been receiving advice from the Ysäye Quartet, as well as within the ProQuartet program with Walter Levine and Paul Katz.
The Ensemble Monsolo has performed naturally in France, but also in Spain, Italy, England, the United Sates and in Japan, having the great honour to play with renowned musicians such as Alain Meunier, Agnès Vesterman (cellists), Julien Petit (saxophonist), and Daria Hovora, Delphine Bardin, Daria Fadeeva and François-Joël Thiollier (pianists).
It is with François-Joël Thiollier that Monsolo recorded for the Polymnie label two quintets by Georges Onslow, which will be released in the summer 2009. Monsolo has also collaborated in the recording of Bach Concertos for two pianos with Hervé and Désiré N’Kaoua. Monsolo also recorded the original soundtrack of Safy Nebbou’s movie “Mark of an Angel” released in August 2008.
Monsolo received the interpretation prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Illzach 2007 (France), as well as the First Prize at the Forum Musical de Normandie 2007 (France), and the First Prize of the Torneo Internazionale di Musica 2008 in Verona (Italy). Following these awards, Monsolo was selected for the Declic programme of Culturesfrance and Radio France. Monsolo’s performances for Radio France include the Cabaret Classique with Jean-François Zygel, and Dans la Cour des grands with Gaëlle le Gallic.
Now, Monsolo has become an ensemble with a varied combination of instruments, grouping from two to ten musicians on stage. From the season 2009/2010, the Ensemble Monsolo will enhance the programming of its concerts, such that each will embody a theme, to draw our audiences closer to the music offered. The theme, presented by the musicians and/or an actor, will be based on, for example, a particular composer, or on subjects such as “The March of the Davidsbundler against the Philistines” based on a programme of Schumann, Brahms and Mendelssohn; or “The Dance in Instrumental Music” with works by Kodaly, Bartok, Escaich and Piazzolla.
Collaboration with composers of the present day is an important part of Monsolo’s activity. Composers such as Pierre Agut, Alain Weber, Maxime Tortelier and Dominique Preschez have dedicated their works to Monsolo, and in November 2009 Ensemble Monsolo will give the world premier of Jacques Boisgallais’s quintet for 2 violas.
Musicians’ biographies: