Photo : Les Eaux du Monde © Benjamin Flao
The Waters of the World
From the fountains of Rome to The Great Wave off Kanagawa, this concert takes us surfing, between rivers and oceans, on the waters of the whole world, through the grace of crystalline and aquatic music illustrated live by the comic book artist Benjamin Flao.
Philharmonie de Paris (Paris 19th)
About
Throughout its three movements, Debussy's La Mer portrays it as eternally changing, by turns calm and tempestuous – with Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa as the frontispiece of the score. More modest in their ambition, Britten's Four Sea Interludes revisit the subject forty years later: extracted from Peter Grimes, whose hero is a fisherman, these four marine miniatures represent the ocean at different times of the day. Rather than a seascape artist, Ottorino Respighi imagines himself as a portraitist of a city: Fountains of Rome is the first part of a trilogy on the iconic locations of the Italian capital. Here are four fountains, from that of Trevi at midday to that of the Villa Medici at nightfall.
Production Philharmonie de Paris
Cast
Orchestre du CRR de Paris - Ida Rubinstein
Pierre-Michel Durand, conductor
Benjamin Flao, live drawing
Our take on this event
Experience a symphonic voyage where the fury of the ocean meets the serenity of Roman fountains. Accompanied by live illustrations drawn right before your eyes, this concert transforms classical masterpieces into a captivating visual and musical narrative. It is the perfect escape for those seeking a touch of elegance this weekend.
The Orchestre du CRR de Paris, conducted by Pierre-Michel Durand, presents Les Eaux du Monde at the Philharmonie de Paris on Saturday, April 3, 2027. This concert invites the audience to explore aquatic landscapes through symphonic works by Debussy, Britten, and Respighi, while artist Benjamin Flao creates live illustrations on stage. The performance takes place from 15:00 to 16:15. This is a ticketed event suitable for classical music enthusiasts who want to experience a unique fusion of orchestral sound and visual arts in one of Paris's most iconic concert halls.
Experience a journey through musical waters at the Philharmonie de Paris during the Les Eaux du Monde concert. Scheduled for Saturday, April 3, 2027, from 15:00 to 16:15, this performance features the Orchestre du CRR de Paris under the baton of Pierre-Michel Durand, with live drawing accompaniment by artist Benjamin Flao.
The program navigates through distinct atmospheres. Claude Debussy’s La Mer captures the ever-changing nature of the ocean, followed by Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, which provide evocative snapshots of the sea at different times of the day. Finally, Ottorino Respighi’s Les Fontaines de Rome concludes the program by musically painting four famous fountains across the Italian capital, from midday to dusk.
Produced by the Philharmonie de Paris and featuring the Ida Rubinstein ensemble, this program offers a sophisticated look at marine and urban themes. Please note that this is a paid event and booking in advance is required to secure your seat.
