While the culture is once again hit by the restrictions linked to the pandemic, young people are trying as every year to join the prestigious circle of classical music. An arduous task to which the French cellist is helping through his Gautier Capuçon foundation launched on Monday under the aegis of the Fondation de France. "
I know how difficult it is to access a career as a classical musician and the pandemic we are going through has only made things worse
," he explains to
Le Figaro
.
I am very concerned by this period of transition between the end of studies and the start of a career: it is a very important pivotal period. Before the Covid, it was already difficult, but since then it has been almost mission impossible.
Hence the idea of a foundation that helps young musicians through three main axes.
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The first concerns the allocation of scholarships.
These allow young talents to continue their studies.
“
We are not always lucky to have parents who financially support their children's studies.
My task will therefore be to find support
, ”says the musician.
A way to ensure a certain equality between the talents chosen but also to define "
a fair sum proportional to their needs, that is to say a biannual scholarship of 5000 euros which can be renewed
", he specifies.
The second axis is essential for professionalization. It allows young people to have access to concert halls. “
Concretely, they will play a work for ten minutes on stage alongside great musicians. This allows it to be highlighted and presented to the public. Often, there are cultural professionals in theaters so they can be spotted and then invited back
”, he underlines, noting that these first parts are very common in the variety but much less in the classic, whereas“
they represent an extraordinary opportunity. In addition, it will not cost the organizer anything because the foundation will give fees to pay for trips and hotels
”specifies Gautier Capuçon.
Finally, the third axis concerns the creation of a disc in partnership with Warner Classics.
“
Each year, a disc is created for one or more participants.
It is an immense help for a beginning of career since there is the guarantee of a big record company
”, he explains to
Figaro
.
A record that the foundation's first laureate, Kim Bernard, is preparing to compose in the studio for a release scheduled for April.
He is a young 22-year-old pianist who will be recording at the end of January with works by Chopin, Ravel and Debussy.
The winner will play his first concert with the Gautier Capuçon Foundation on Sunday January 9 at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, during the cellist's recital with Nikolaï Lugansky on the piano.
But Kim Bernard really started his career at the age of 9 when he joined the third cycle of the Toulon Conservatory to graduate at just 12 years old.
“
This is the exact profile we want to help: a brilliant young man who is about to enter the world of work.
We have already chosen the first winner because things had to change and quickly
, ”says the cellist, who hopes to eventually open his foundation to other instruments, even to other artistic forms such as dance or composition. .
"This philanthropic project extends my long-standing commitment to music education."
Gautier Capuçon
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The first scholarships will be awarded in spring 2022 for young violinists, cellists, violists and pianists.
"
It is the excellence of these young people that we will look at above all in the allocation of these scholarships
", specifies Gautier Capuçon.
They must hold a prize from a regional conservatory or a higher national music conservatory.
"
With this foundation, I wanted to go even further in the accompaniment and transmission to help young talented musicians in the realization of their dream
".
For him, this organization is therefore the assurance of continuously helping these young talents, who will one day take over.
