Lucien Kandel, countertenor and musical director
After studying German and Linguistics at the University of Limoges, Lucien Kandel turned to singing. Between 1991 and 1996 he was trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (CNSM) in Lyon, where he studied classical, romantic and contemporary repertoires under Jacqueline Bonnardot and subsequently ancient chant under Marie-Claude Vallin. He has performed all types of music from Gregorian chant to present-day works. He has sung regularly with A Sei Voce, The Huelgas Ensemble, Elyma, The Bernard Tetu Solistes de Lyon and Doulce Mémoire. Lucien Kandel is particularly committed to the pedagogy of singing and he has taught at the ENS-LSH in Lyon as well as at the Académie des Cuivres in Le Monastier. He is also regularly invited to direct master classes at Royaumont Abbey on the repertoires of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. He has been teaching ancient music at the Haute École de Musique in Geneva since 2011.
Lucien Kandel, countertenor and musical director
Christel Boiron, mezzo-soprano
After studying at the Saint-Etienne Conservatory, she joins the CNSM of Lyon, specializing in Early Music under Marie-Claude Vallin, Dominique Vellard and Gérard Geay.
At the same time, she actively takes part in the creation of Musica Nova of which she is a permanent member. She regularly collaborates with ensembles such as "Gilles Binchois" (D. Vellard), "Huelgas Ensemble" (P. Van Nevel), "Les Solistes de Lyon" (B. Tétu), "Discantus", "Alla Francesca", "Quam dilecta", and "Doulce Mémoire".
Christel Boiron, mezzo-soprano
Esther Labourdette, soprano
After graduating the Maîtrise de Radio-France, she continues her singing studies with Sylvie Sullé and Stéphanie Révidat and obtains a Degree in Music Studies from the City of Paris, while pursuing a course in Musicology. She furthers her Medieval and Renaissance chant training with Katarina Livljanic, Benjamin Bagby, Lucien Kandel and Francis Biggi, and Baroque singing with Julie Hassler, Agnès Mellon, Gabriel Garrido and Rosa Dominguez.
She performed as a soloist with Early Music ensembles such as "Doulce Mémoire", "les Folies du Temps" and "I Sospiranti." She has interpreted the role of the Musician in “The Bourgeois Gentleman”, the Second Lady in “Dido and Æneas”, and Sangaride in “Atys”. She has also been invited to take part in contemporary music productions.
In addition to her collaboration with Musica Nova, she works with ensembles such as "Sequentia", "Candor Vocalis", "Territoires du Souffle", "the Chapelle-Musique du Val-de-Grâce","Aquilegia", "Les Voix Animées" and the "BelaVilo" trio, as well as the soloists choir "Mikrokosmos" and the chamber choir of “Namur".
Esther Labourdette, soprano
Caroline Magalhaes, mezzo-soprano
Obtaining a Master's degree in History and an Advanced studies diploma in Musicology, she studied in parallel the repertoire of the Middle Ages at the Center for Medieval Music in Paris. She joins the Early Music department of the CNSM of Lyon in 1993, graduating in the class of Marie-Claude Vallin in 1998. She is a member of several ensembles such as Discantus" (B. Lesne), "Eloquentia" (M. C. Vallin) and "Gondwana" (E. Lopes), she performs regularly with the ensembles “Allégorie" and "Chœur de Chambre de Strasbourg" (C. Bolzinger), and she takes part in the artistic projects of the "Huelgas Ensemble" (Paul Van Nevel), "Le Parlement de Musique" (Martin Gester), "William Byrd" (Graham O’Reilly).
Caroline Magalhaes, mezzo-soprano
Xavier Olagne, contratenor
After studying singing and choral direction at the CNR of Bensançon, he obtained his degree in Choral Direction at the CNSM of Lyon. In addition to being a permanent member of Musica Nova, he is a Choir Director for the CRR of Lyon and teaches in the Music Studies department of the INSA (Lyon).
He is also a singer in ensembles such as Doulce Mémoire, les Solistes de Lyon, ensemble Britten.
Xavier Olagne, countertenor
Thierry Peteau, tenor
Passionate about the polyphonic music of the 14th and 15th centuries, this singer is also an actor, specializing in the gestural language of baroque theater. Reputed for his competences, he has performed for the past several years at concerts or in the theater, in France and abroad.
After graduating from the Toulouse Conservatory and the Versailles Baroque Music Center, he joined professional vocal ensembles such as Accentus, La Capelle Royale, Doulce Mémoire, Les Eléments... For the past 15 years he has sung with the Musica Nova ensemble, of which he is one of the permanent members, a group recognized for its work on the polyphony of the 14th and 15th centuries whose discography has been distinguished with several important critics' awards: Diapason d'or de l'année, Choc du Monde de la Musique de l’année, Gramophone's Editor's Choice...
Specializing in 17th century theatrical gesture and French pronunciation from the 14th to the 18th centuries, he has produced several shows, notably by one of his favorite authors, Jean de La Fontaine. He regularly collaborates with several ensembles of ancient music for the creation of original shows, combining texts and music (Sagittarius, Scandicus, Les Sales Characters, Ensemble Diderot ...). He is a member of the troupe "La Compagnie du Mage" led by Jean-Paul Bouron where he plays regularly at the Palace of Versailles, Chambord, or recently at the Palais de l'Elysee.
His mastery of singing and spoken voice techniques drives him to give master classes on a regular basis, for professional singers and actors, but also for children, high school students or students, in France, Russia, Switzerland ...
Thierry Peteau, tenor
Jérémie Couleau, tenor
He stated his Early Music training at the Conservatory of Toulouse, later perfecting his skills with the help of Julie Hassler and Lucien Kandel. He is part of prestigious ensembles specializing in Early Music such as Doulce Mémoire" or "Scandicus", performing in large music festivals (Saintes, Odyssud, Utrecht, "Cathédrales en Picardie", "Toulouse les Orgues", Thoronet, Sylvanes...). In addition to his singing career he is an associate professor and researcher. In particular, he is in charge of the programs of the “Scandicus” ensemble.
Jérémie Couleau, tenor
Guillaume Olry, bassus
Guillaume Olry has been singing since the age of eight in the Maîtrise de Garçons in Colmar under the direction of Arlette Steyer, where he acquired a solid musical training.
In 2003, he joined the CNSMD of Lyon in the classes of Brian Parsons and later Marie-Claude Vallin. He has participated in master classes by Laura Sarti and Roman Trekel.
In 2007, he obtained his Higher National Diploma in Musical Studies with a distinction and perfected his education under Harry van der Kamp at the Musikhochschule Bremen. He also works the lyrical repertoire with the soprano Cécile De Boever.
He sings regularly in France and abroad with prestigious ensembles such as the Huelgas Ensemble, The Concert Spirituel, Musica Nova Lyon, Pygmalion, La Chapelle Rhénane, Weser Renaissance, Cantus Thuringia or Ensemble Gilles Binchois, in festivals such as Antwerp, Utrecht, Bremen, BBC Prom's, Cuenca, Ribeauvillé, Ambronay, Ile-de-France, Sablé-sur-Sarthe, Saintes, La Chaise-Dieu, etc.
He also performs as a soloist in oratorio: B-Minor Mass, the Passions and many cantatas of JS and CPE Bach, Messiah, Handel's Solomon and La resurrezione, Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Creation, Stabat Mater and Nelson Mass etc ... and also in recitals of French melody and lied.
Guillaume Olry, bassus
Marc Busnel, bassus
It is during his Musicology training at the Tours University that he approaches Renaissance repertoire as part of the “Jacques Moderne” ensemble, conducted by Jean-Pierre Ouvrard. In parallel to his Musical and Music writing studies at the Tours Conservatory, his singing lessons with Pali Marinov allow him to tackle other musical periods, including contemporary creations. Starting his career within the “Clément Janequin” ensemble, and in addition to his performances with Musica Nova, he has worked with ensembles such as "Huelgas", "Doulce mémoire", "Les jeunes Solistes". He teaches facsimile music reading during the “Early Music Weekends” of the Tours Conservatory and he is a research fellow for the “Center for Advanced Renaissance Studies” of Tours.
Marc Busnel, bassus
Joseph Rassam, harpsichord and organ
Joseph Rassam was drawn to music from a very early age. Learning to play the organ with the help of Michel Chausson, he discovers the harpsichord during a Dominique Ferran concert in 1991. Having studied under Françoise Marmin and Eric Lebrun at the Angers and Saint Maur-des-Fossés Conservatories, he joins the Early Music department of the Lyon Conservatory in the harpsichord class of Françoise Lengellé. He perfects his organ playing under Jean Boyer and Michel Bignens, studying in particular XVIth and XVIIth century repertoires.
In addition to his collaboration with the Musica Nova ensemble, he also performs with ensembles such as "Abendmusik" and "Jacques Moderne". He is one of the creators of the danced theatrical concert "Récitatifs Toxiques" (Toxic Recitatives) with the "Toujours après Minuit" company at Ville-Les Abbesses Theater in 2007.
He is the tenured organist for the Cattilaux organ of Amilly, and also a harpsichord and organ teacher in the music school of the same town. He has recently recorded and album dedicated to the Baroque music of North Germany.
Joseph Rassam, harpsichord and organ
Josquin Gest, countertenor
He began singing at the age of 11 within the maîtrise de Seine-Maritime, directed by Jean-Joël Duchesne. Later, he joined the “Jeune Chœur de Paris” under the direction of Laurence Equilbey and Geoffroy Jourdain and obtained a degree in Musicology from the Paris-Sorbonne University. He continued his studies at the “Early Music Center”, a department of the “Haute École de Musique” in Geneva, first under Béatrice Cramoix, then Lucien Kandel. In 2012 he obtained a Musical pedagogy Master's degree.
Today, in addition to Musica Nova, he performs as chorister or soloist with ensembles such as “Les voix animées”, “l’Académie vocale de Suisse Romande”, the chamber choir of “Namur”, under conductors such as Gabriel Garrido, Leonardo Garcìa Alarcòn, John Duxbury, Ton Koopman, Jean-Claude Malgoire.
Josquin Gest, countertenor
Éric Chopin, bassus
After studying Computer science and Musicology at the University of Poitiers, he becomes cantor at the Maîtrise of the Baroque Music Center in Versailles, lead by Olivier Schneebeli. Simultaneously, he takes interest in contemporary music and completes his training under Laurence Equilbey as part of the "Jeune Chœur de Paris" and Roland Hayrabédian of the "Chœur Contemporain" of Aix-en-Provence.
A regular performer in the mixed programs of the "Choeur Britten" conducted by Nicole Corti and the projects of "Solistes de Lyon–Bernard Tétu", he also takes part in contemporary music productions with the “Musicatreize" ensemble under the direction of Roland Hayrabédian and "Cris de Paris" conducted by Geoffroy Jourdain. He approaches Early and Baroque Music repertoires with ensembles such as "Concert Spirituel" conducted by Hervé Niquet, Frank-Emmanuel Comte's "Concert de l'Hostel-Dieu", Clément Lebrun's "Non Papa", and Benoît Damant's "Enthéos" ensemble.
Éric Chopin, bassus
Antonio Guirao Valverde, bassus
Antonio Guirao started his singing training in Spain. He then joined the CNR of Toulouse, from which he graduated with first class honors in 2005. He continued his education as part of the Center of Superior Studies of Music and Dance and the Early Music Department of the Conservatory of Toulouse. He studied under Jacques Schwarz, Isabelle Desrochers, Mady Mesplé, Jérôme Correras, Gabriel Bacquier and Jean-Paul Fouchécourt. He has worked with the "Ensemble Baroque de Toulouse", "Les passions" orchestra, "Les Éléments" ensemble, and is a founding member of the vocal ensemble "Il Canto d'Arione". In parallel to his singing career, he is a chant professor at the Aveyron Departmental Conservatory and the Conservatory of Toulouse, while taking part as a teacher in numerous singing workshops in the south of France.
Antonio Guirao Valverde, bassus
Marie Bournisien, harp
Marie Bournisien studied modern harp at the music school of Montbéliard and at the Paris Conservatory with Frédérique Cambreling. She finished in 1999 with the “Prix de la ville de Paris”.
Since 1999 she has devoted herself to the historic harp which she studied with Marion Fourquier at the "Centre de Musique Médiévale de Paris" and with Heidrun Rosenzweig at the "Schola Cantorum Basiliensis". In 2002 she began postgraduate studies at the Music Academy of The Hague with Christina Pluhar and obtained her diploma in 2005.
Marie has taken part in concerts and recordings with renowned ensembles such as “Le poème harmonique”, “Akademia”, “La cetra”, “Musica Nova”, “La chapelle Rhénane”, “savadi” and “Clematis”. Theese ensembles have taken her all over Europe. The “savadi” ensemble, of which she is a permanent member since 2002, was awarded the "Early Music Network International Young Artists' Competition" in York in 2003, and the first prize in the "Van Wassenaer" competition in Hague in 2004.
She currently teaches baroque harp at the Music Academy of Zurich.
Marie Bournisien, harp
Anass Habib, singer and drummer guest
Anass Habib lived in Syria where he perfected singing techniques with the great masters of Damascus and Aleppo. He has given hundreds of concerts in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Tunisia, and many Moroccan cities.
Several albums of sacred music have been produced, including Journey to the inner center with Sufi Arabic songs, Syriac Maronite songs, Spanish Sephardic songs in Spanish such as the Abenámar Romance that he puts to music, and a "manda" Sufi sound that he composed, with also a Sufi repertoire featuring many Arabic poems from Hallaj to Rabia. He also performs Oum Kalsoum, and all the repertoire of the great Lebanese singer Fairuz. He is also a good practitioner of Syrian Sufi songs, Maronite songs from Lebanon, Cha'abi, Orthodox Byzantine Easter or Andalusian melodies.
Anass Habib, guest artist
Nicolas André, guest conductor
Nicolas André makes his own way of career with enthusiasm and determination.
Right after graduating from the Conservation national supérieur de musique et de danse (CNSMD) de Lyon, he founded both the Baroque ensemble "Les Enchantemens" which he conducts from the continuo and which he focuses on the French repertory of the XVIIth and XVIIIth century as well as the vocal ensemble "Diakhrôma", a true musical laboratory.
In 2009, he founded the Festival d’Arromanches which he himself administrates as artistic and musical director. He also founded a youth orchestra which is associated to the festival for the presentation of a wide-spread symphonic repertoire from Mozart via Brahms and Stravinksky to Poulenc. Within his festival-program he tries out new concert formats for instance when inviting the folk-music ensemble „Accordzéâm“ to perform an original and delightful version of Dvorak’s Symphony „From the New World“.
Hervé Niquet invited him to become associate conductor at the Concert Spirituel while Kent Nagano asked him to join the Hamburg State Opera as his musical assistant. Two great, highly sensible musicians recognize Nicolas André as a strong, outstandingly compelling personality.
Nicolas André also appeared as guest-conductor of the Orchestre national de Montpellier, the Orchestre symphonique et lyrique de Nancy, the Orchestre lyrique de Région Avignon Provence, the Brussels Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
Except for his regular activities with the Concert Spirituel and the Vlaams Radio Koor, his plans for season 2017/18 also include his debut with the Opéra de Bordeaux within a ballet-production dedicated to the great dancer and choreographer Carolyn Carlson.