Known and recognized violinist, Renaud Capuçon illuminated the confinement of the French in March 2020 with pianist Guillaume Bellom by offering live concerts every day. These performances have been available since November 12 as an album, A violin in Paris.
franceinfo: Renaud Capuçon, this disc serves as a testimony, of gratitude towards an audience who accompanied you during this pandemic?
Yes, it was spontaneous for me to live this period in music, to share with an audience, and maybe also a way to soften the confinement of some. We all experienced this period differently, some painfully. As far as I’m concerned, I was lucky to be in good health, but it’s true that it was a clean slate on a lot of things, especially on the concerts. We had the happiness of being with family, but music and sharing were lacking. As it was broadcast in a precarious manner (Guillaume Bellom sent me his music, I played it on a loudspeaker and played over it), we wanted to make it a little better, that’s why we have everything re-recorded in the studio.
These pieces also represent you, there are both great classics with Bach from Chopin, but also timeless pieces, from Ennio Morricone, and even from Charlie Chaplin!
I define myself as the most organic musician possible, who likes to share music with as many people as possible. These songs are quite short, five minutes maximum, it may be less intimidating than an entire symphony. If it can be a gateway to the classic, it is magnificent.
Do you have emotions through your violin, what you experience, what you feel?
“I have more emotions when I listen to music than when I play it.”
Renaud Capuçonto francinfo
If as a performer I am very moved, it will break the transmission of this emotion to the public, it is a dangerous game. You have to have a form of filter when you are an interpreter to convey this emotion, to be only a vector. I did cry on stage once, but it was I who was moved, not the audience.
You started playing the violin very early, at 4 years old.
I liked the music, I think I was grabbed, the music reassured me, when I was not even someone anxious. As far as I can remember, music has done me good. This is the purpose of this disc, it has a therapeutic function. This music was good during the confinement, I think we can relive some happy moments by listening to it again.
Did you quickly realize that music was going to be part of your life?
Yes, and again what was important was sharing. It’s not playing alone in your room, it’s playing with others, playing for the public. This record is also that, starting from a situation where everything was at a standstill, and transforming the test by trying to pass the music with the means at hand.
Bach occupies an important place in your life.
Bach is the daily bread, the heart of the reactor. Without it, the music is not. You can soak up his music as you can take medicine, do therapy, pray … Bach’s music feels good, and it’s almost the only one I’ve listened to during this whole period.
What place does music occupy in your life?
A central place, even if I play more than I listen to. I realized how happy it was to go back to the concert halls, as a listener too, I realized how much we missed it, how much it is a food of the soul. If we have to find anything positive about this period, it is to realize how much culture is as essential for us as drinking water or eating bread.