Inspired by the Wiener Secession, a collective of exceptional artists prioritizing the dialogue between the arts, ethical topics and a European vision in Vienna of 1900, the Paris based Secession Orchestra was initiated by their musical and artistic director Clément Mao – Takacs. The ensembles repertoire spans from chamber music to symphonic works and focuses on the 20th and 21st century, having made a name for themselves performing Wagner, Mahler, Schönberg, Berg, Webern, Debussy, Ravel, Shostakovich, Bartók and Sibelius. Secession Orchestra often plays in Parisian museum’s auditoriums (Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac) and halls (Theatre des Champs-Elysees).
The list of soloists who worked with the Secession Orchestra is ever growing. Collaborating with the next generation of lyrical artists is also an important pillar of the Orchestra’s programming. Multiplying collaborations and bridges between arts and cultures, the Secession Orchestra participates in transdisciplinary projects, sharing the stage with artists like the Korean painter and performer Nam Hong. The most important partner providing a platform for multi-displitary projects is La Chambre aux Echos, founded by Clément Mao – Takacs and author/stage director Aleksi Barrière. Together they have realized a melting pot for dialogue and interaction between the arts creating other forms of shows, performances, concerts and exhibitions. So far, they create eight shows together exploring Wagner/Mahler, Eisler, Henze/Koskinen, Wagner/Saariaho/Debussy, Schönberg and Milhaud/Svrse/Revueltas.
The Secession Orchestra is also an integral part of the TERRAQUÉ festival based in Carnac, Britany. The festival was founded by Clément Mao – Takacs as an ideal place for the Secession Lab introducing adventures programmes to the audience. These unforgettable settings – especially by the sea in Britany - and the artistic experience create a unique atmosphere of a collective enthusiasm and initiates a closeness between the musicians, soloists and audience beyond the stage and the evening of a performance.
Educational actions are at the heart of Secession Orchestra’s mission. For us, every cultural act is an educational and social act. Each of the performances is based on a didactic dimension within a humane logic (meetings, debates, exchanges). From this premise was born an innovative way of looking at educational and pedagogical projects which takes children and young people beyond the status of listeners.
www.secessionorchestra.com
