Photo : association femmes et musique
A Musical Voyage of Women!
The Association Femmes et Musique invites you to a musical journey in three stages, honoring composers of yesterday and today.
Mairie de Paris Centre (Paris 3rd)
About
The first part will be dedicated to the harp, in partnership with Collegium21, and will feature the young harpist, still in training, Saya Toyama, performing works by Heinz Holliger and Toshio Hosokawa.
The second part will be dedicated to Marguerite Canal, a French composer, teacher, and conductor. A mini-lecture hosted by Jeanne Hourez will shed light on her career and musical language, illustrated by excerpts played on the piano.
Finally, the third part will bring together Aurélie Courtot and Armelle Humbert for melodies by Louise Bertin, Elise Bertrand, Mathilde de Rothschild, and Valeria Pacifico. An evening dedicated to transmission, discovery, and highlighting the female musical heritage!
Heinz HOLLIGER (1939) Prélude – air - passacaille
Toshio HOSOKAWA (1955) Two popular songs for harp
Marguerite CANAL (1890-1978) Spleen (excerpts from Mediterranean Sketches)
Marguerite CANAL Recueillement (Charles Baudelaire)
Valeria PACIFICO (1964) Lureley (Clemens Brentano)
Mathilde Willy de ROTHSCHILD (1832-1924) Danziam (Achille de Lauzières-Thémines) - Tristesse (Sophie d'Arbouville) - Romance (Victor Hugo)
Elise BERTRAND (2000) Ta bouche aux lèvres d'or (ext. from 3 melodies on poems by Paul Eluard)
Pauline DUCHAMBGE (1778-1858) La romance de l'Abencérage (François-René de Châteaubriand)
Louise BERTIN (1805-1877) Romance (from the opera Esmeralda, libretto based on Victor Hugo)
Aurélie Courtot, piano Armelle Humbert, soprano Saya Toyama, harp Jeanne Hourez, researcher
Our take on this event
Prepare for an intimate journey through the eyes and ears of visionary female composers who have left their mark on classical music history. Between the delicate touch of the harp and the depth of the soprano, you will experience a truly sophisticated performance in an atmospheric setting.
On Tuesday, November 24, 2026, the Mairie de Paris Centre hosts the Voyage musical au féminin, an evening celebrating women in music. From 19:30 to 20:45, this free concert features a diverse program of harp, piano, and vocal performances highlighting composers such as Marguerite Canal and Louise Bertin. The venue is wheelchair accessible and equipped to accommodate deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, and visually impaired guests. It is a unique opportunity to explore rare musical heritage and attend an insightful mini-lecture on women’s contributions to classical composition within the heart of Paris' 3rd arrondissement.
The event on November 24, 2026, is structured into three distinct segments focusing on female musical heritage. The opening act showcases the harp, featuring musician Saya Toyama performing works by Heinz Holliger and Toshio Hosokawa, in collaboration with Collegium21. The second segment shifts to the life and musical style of French composer and conductor Marguerite Canal. Researcher Jeanne Hourez will deliver an illustrated mini-lecture, providing context on her career and technique through live piano excerpts.
The final part of the program features pianist Aurélie Courtot and soprano Armelle Humbert. They will perform melodies by Louise Bertin, Elise Bertrand, Mathilde de Rothschild, and Valeria Pacifico. This concert takes place from 19:30 to 20:45 at the Mairie de Paris Centre and is free of charge. The organizers ensure full accessibility, with the premises being wheelchair accessible and adapted to support individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired.
