Composers

• Monbet, Fiona

Conductor

• Fiona Monbet

Soloists

• Fiona Monbet – Violin
• Auxane Cartigny – Piano
• Philippe Maniez – Drum Kit
• Zacharie Abraham – Double Bass

Fiona Monbet conducts and performs her own work, Faubourg 23, written for jazz ensemble and orchestra; a celebration of both jazz and symphonic music that sits in a lineage that flows from Stephane Grappelli and is effervescent, uplifting and full of the joys of spring in Paris.

“[Faubourg 23] begins in old Paris and its Faubourg atmosphere, conjured by waltzes and references to Edith Piaf and Joséphine Baker. A ‘faubourg’ also refers to what lies beyond the city’s walls, beyond its boundaries, and thus the writing changes, taking us elsewhere and bringing together very different worlds, or worlds yet to be invented.

My focus was on writing the transitions between the different musical worlds found throughout the piece, the idea being that you can make huge leaps in style or mood as long as you approach it subtly. It alternates between a sort of concerto form and a more orchestral jazz atmosphere.

In the back of my mind, while working on transition and transformation, was the question of heritage, and what we can do with ours today.”

– Fiona Monbet on Faubourg 23