Celebrated for its fifth anniversary, La Boite à Pépites has partnered with the renowned Musée d’Orsay to launch a unique cultural experience focusing on women’s contributions to music and art. This collaboration showcases twenty-five miniatures, each spotlighting the work of one composer and one artist, effectively bridging the realms of music and visual arts. The blend of these two artistic expressions is facilitated by the museum's former station setting, where the atmosphere evokes creativity and inspiration.
This year’s program, aptly themed “Jardin féérique,” transports audiences through the works of lesser-known female composers whose talents remained largely underappreciated during the male-dominated eras of classical music. La Boite à Pépites aims to rectify this oversight by unearthing hidden gems and presenting them on stage. "If I ask an audience to name five composers, responses will pour forth. If I ask for five names of female composers, it will be much harder to obtain complete answers," said Héloïse Luzzati, highlighting the project’s significance.
The concert features 37 talented artists, including sopranos Marie-Laure Garnier and Agathe Peyrat, mezzo-sopranos like Karine Deshayes, and instrumentalists such as Celia Oneto Bensaid, who have worked to revive the works of the selected female composers. With each month of December, the ensemble has unearthed and displayed the works of 25 different female composers, delving deep to find forgotten scores and manuscripts often buried away.
Fascinatingly, the evening opens with Mel Bonis’s "Desdemona," dedicated to the tragic heroine of opera, setting the tone for the concert’s exploration of feminine narratives throughout history. Moving through performances by Jean Coultard, Marthe Grumbach, and Anna Teichmüller, the evening showcases not only pure classical compositions but also the variances found within the musical style and thematic depth of the performances.
Audience members are treated to moments of joy and poignancy, including the spirited "Sérénade des oiseaux" by Yvonne Desportes, whose performance dazzles with its lively rhythm and colorful instrumentation. Each piece offers deep dives not only musically but also emotionally, as they reflect the lives and struggles of their creators.
The concert also pays homage to Henriette Puig-Roget, who defied norms by yearning for orchestral conducting—a career path once forbidden for women. Her work, alongside others, emphasizes how the gender barriers slowly dissolved over decades, paving the way for today's recognition of female talent.
Many of the composers featured have rich stories; for example, Jeanne Leleu, celebrated as the third woman to receive the Prix de Rome, reminds us of the systemic challenges faced by women throughout the arts. Known primarily for her contributions to drama as well, Leleu's early work with Maurice Ravel exemplifies how these women’s achievements are intertwined with historical artistic movements.
The concert concludes with overwhelming applause, as the assemblage of artists performs "The Night is All Blue" by Marthe Grumbach. This collaborative finale becomes not only the highlight of the evening but also reinforces the concert's mission to mold the narrative of women's roles within classical music history. "All voices hyphenated tell their collective peace," said one audience member reflecting on the spirit of unity exhibited throughout the performances.
More than just entertainment, this cultural endeavor serves to reframe how audiences perceive women's artistic contributions. Festivals like this cultivate appreciation for diversity not only within the composition but also across artistic platforms. With La Boite à Pépites' engaging work and commitment to unearthing these treasures, audiences are left optimistic as they look forward to next year's presentations, enriched by the stories shared and the talents acknowledged.
