CAFÉ ZIMMERMANN
Céline Frisch & Pablo Valetti
NEWS
NEW SEASON
Café Zimmermann is delighted to announce our new concert dates for this season!
Follow us to Aix-en-Provence, La Rochelle, Lyon, and many other locations.
With new dates, new creations, and revivals, we look forward to seeing you again!
NEW RECORDING
Céline Frisch's latest recording, Partitas, devoted to J.S. Bach's harpsichord suites, is now available.
As the pieces unfold, discover the intense expressive palette, from the most disarming tenderness to the most poignant distress, via boundless joy.
NEW MUSIC VIDEO
Discover our latest video clip, which will transport you to the heart of the recording of our upcoming CD: Vivaldi, Masques, recorded in January 2025 at the Grand Manège in Namur.
We are delighted to have been able to record this album with the talented countertenor Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian.
While you wait for the album to be released, take a look behind the scenes!
CALENDAR
ABOUT US
CAFE ZIMMERMANN
Created in 1999, Café Zimmermann is at the forefront of the baroque concert in France and in Europe. Led by violinist Pablo Valetti and harpsichordist Céline Frisch, the ensemble brings together soloists who strive to revive the artistic emulation brought about by the establishment of Gottfried Zimmermann in Leipzig in the 18th century. Café Zimmermann performs in some of the most renowned concert halls and international festivals and his many collaborations are always under the sign of excellence.
The discographic recordings of Café Zimmermann arouse a real enthusiasm, in particular by the removed and contrasting interpretations of the concert music of J.S. Bach, rewarded by 5 golden tuning forks.
CÉLINE FRISCH
Harpsichord & Artistic Direction
Born in Marseille, Céline Frisch studied harpsichord at the Conservatoire d'Aix-en-Provence, which opened the doors to the prestigious Schola Cantorum in Basel. She was awarded the Juventus Prize in 1996, was the first harpsichordist selected for the Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2002, and was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2009.
Her interpretations of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach have earned her the warmest of reviews from the international music press. In addition to Bach, her affinities have led her to play French music from the time of Louis XIV, the works of the English virginalists and German music of the 17th century. She also enjoys exploring 20th century music and contemporary creation.
In 2016, her recording of the first book of J.S. Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" was unanimously acclaimed by the critics and awarded a Diapason d'Or, the Choc de Classica and the ffff de Télérama. His latest disc, released in 2019, featuring the second book of the Well-Tempered Clavier, has also been awarded a Diapason d'Or and the Choc de Classica.
From 2020 to 2023, she taught at the prestigious Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien.
PABLO VALETTI
Violin and Artistic Direction
Trained at the Schola Cantorum in Basel, Pablo Valetti has regularly performed as soloist or first violin with the main baroque ensembles and orchestras of international scenes - Les Arts Florissants, Le Concert des Nations, Concerto Köln, Hesperion XXI, etc.
Beyond his activities as a soloist, he was regularly invited to conduct the Orquesta Barroca in Seville and also devoted himself to teaching at the Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunya in Barcelona and the Conservatory of Nice .
Since the creation of Café Zimmermann in 1999, he has devoted himself entirely to the artistic project and to the development of the whole.
He plays a violin by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini from 1758.
DISCOGRAPHY
LEIPZIGER VOLKSZEITUNG
Who has heard the sensational Café Zimmermann in this
music, the brilliant and fiery spirit of their game, the profusion
of their colors, the evidence with which virtuosos put themselves
together to form a set that plays homogeneously,
will want to hear more from this composer (CPE Bach).
TUNING FORK
Must we also say the liveliness, eloquence, responsiveness, perfectionism
that Frisch, Valetti and their band put on concertos, Suites,
Brandenburg? Should we remember that no French ensemble had
taken such a place in Bach's discography?
CLASSICA
Stunning, insolent, virtuoso but also rich in
colors and shades. Soloist and orchestra are exhilarating
from start to finish. Who says better?
EL PAIS
Café Zimmermann plays with incredible freshness and insolence (…). Their music comes straight to us, uninhibited. They swing!
THE WORLD
Baroque 'beef' atmosphere, with super-fast tempos, crisp articulations and sharp colors.
CULTURAL ACTIONS
THE WILL TO DEVELOP ACTIONS FOR ALL AUDIENCES
TRANSMIT, EDUCATE, SHARE
Café Zimmermann promotes 18th century music to a wider public through inventive awareness-raising activities. Transmission is at the heart of the musicians' approach, some of whom teach in European conservatories.
A project of cultural and pedagogical actions is developed, notably in the SUD region, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
The Parcours Baroque program
This program, which has already been repeated several times, offers an introduction to baroque music to schools in Aix-en-Provence, in partnership with the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume. This series of events culminates in a concert dedicated to the school public at the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume, which welcomes the Parcours classes as well as other schools. In 2024, the proposed concert is the "Midnight Mood" program.
Listen differently
On the occasion of the Midnight Mood concert, we wanted to introduce baroque music to a class of deaf children. So, after a few sessions with a mediator and a deaf music expert in the classroom, the children will join us on stage at the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume for a workshop in which they can exchange ideas and discover Baroque instruments.
At Meyrargues media library
In January 2024, we launched a partnership focusing on mediation activities. Throughout the year, specialists offer the Meyrargues media library an opportunity to discuss Baroque music. This two-year agreement sets the stage for new encounters and future projects.
In hospitals
For several years now, musicians from our ensemble have been working on the wards of various hospitals in the PACA region. These significant actions demonstrate that music can provide invaluable support at difficult times.
Throughout the year, in conjunction with the Jeu de Paume team, we also organize small-scale private concerts at social action centers and nursing homes, such as CCAS Sans Souci and Maison de Gardanne.
SUPPORT US
Amateurs are passionate about baroque music, you can support the projects of the Café Zimmermann Ensemble by making a donation to the association Lights.
By becoming a patron, you support the action of an important player in European musical life. You show your attachment to the dissemination of live music and in particular to the Baroque repertoire while allowing the development of many projects to raise awareness of 18th century music.
You benefit, according to the tax provisions in force, from a tax reduction of 66% of the amount of your donation ... (A donation of 100 € actually costs you 34 €)
SUPPORT OUR ACTIONS!
Café Zimmermann has been in residence at the Grand Théâtre de Provence since 2011, thanks to the Alpha label, partner of all its discographic projects.
Café Zimmermann is a member of the Federation of Independent Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles - FEVIS and of the professional union of Producers, Festivals, Independent Music Diffusers - PROFEDIM.
The whole Café Zimmermann benefits from the support of the Ministry of Culture - Regional Direction of Cultural Affairs of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, the Metropolis Marseille Provence - Pays d'Aix and the Provence-Alpes-Côte- Azure.
The ensemble is regularly helped by ADAMI, SPEDIDAM and the French Institute for its concert activities in France and abroad and for recording.
CONTACT US
ADMINISTRATION & BOOKING
Héloïse ROUSSAT
+33 (0)7 62 37 19 62 diffusion@cafe-zimmermann.com
PRODUCTION, COMMUNICATION & EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Lucie DONETTA
+33 (0)7 86 87 89 75 cafezimmermann@gmail.com
INTERNATIONAL BOOKING
Spain: MGM Management www.mariagoded.com
Maria GODED RAMBAUD maria@mariagoded.com
+34 (0) 918 969 035
Switzerland: C3-arts Consulting
Chandler CUDLIPP c3-arts@ggaweb.ch
+41 (0) 78 626 09 69