DUET WITH BASS PLAYER ÉDOUARD MACAREZ

« People often have a somewhat simplistic idea of our instruments. The double bass is regarded as an instrument that accompanies and not a solo instrument; the accordion is still not really associated with classical music. Édouard and I like drawing parallels between repertoire for the accordion and the double bass, around a very broad programme spanning a century and a half of music: from Jo Privat to Bottesini and Shostakovich encompassing Jacques Brel. »

This musical journey spanning from musette waltz to 1930s swing and from romantic masterpieces to fiery Latin American rhythms combines the accordion and double bass, two closely linked instruments on account of their mystery, popularity and openness to all musical styles. Félicien and Édouard freely blow, sing and vibrate transcending a realm of genres to express a century of wide-ranging music: Bottesini and Galliano, Glière, Shostakovich, Piazzolla, Nazareth, Viseur, Privat and Azzola.

One stands on a spike and the other hangs from straps, yet the double bass and accordion are fellow adventurers sharing a unique journey. 

They have both been subject to lengthy debate about their genealogies: the viola or violin family for the former, whereas the latter is related to the Chinese mouth organ or portable piano.

They have travelled around the whole world finding their place in a wide range of popular cultures from Eastern Europe to South America including Paris, New York and Moscow. 

It took a while to convince classical composers of their time before eventually sparking their curiosity.

The talent of previous generations of passionate instrumentalists was necessary to facilitate their upturn. Richard Galliano proved the amazing abilities of the accordion to everyone while, a century previously, Giovanni Bottesini achieved the same amazing feat with the double bass. 

Edouard Macarez and Félicien Brut look back on the history of their instruments, at first glance so different but with many similarities on closer inspection. 

Roaming a century of music,

With roots all over the world,

Feel the beat of these two wanderers as the music plays on 

Folder about this program

ÉDOUARD MACAREZ – bass player

Edouard Macarez began playing the double bass at the age of 10 with Jean-Loup Dehant, a teacher at the Conservatoire de Douai, before starting in Thierry Barbé’s class at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in 2006. In 2009 he was unanimously awarded first prize with congratulations from the jury. In 2011, Edouard decided to further improve his skill in Germany with Niek de Groet, former soloist of the Royal Concergebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

Edouard received awards at several national and international competitions: 1st Prize for three consecutive years in competitions organised by the Association des Contrebassistes de France in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in Paris, Lyon and Béziers, 1st Prize in the Concours de Cordes d’Epernay in 2006, 1st Prize in the ‘International Paris Bass’competition in 2008 and 1st Prize in 2009 in the ‘Scottish International Competition’in Glasgow.

He has played in many recitals notably in Paris, in the grand auditorium of the Glasgow Royal College, in the Horshcule auditorium in Berlin during Berlin Bass 2010, in Dusseldorf, Essen, etc. He played as a soloist, with an orchestra, with the Royal College of Glasgow Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the Baltic Chamber Orchestra.

Passionate about orchestras, Edouard joined the Orchestre National de Lille at the age of 19 before securing a position as a soloist with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France three years later.

edouard macarez

Duet with Thibaut Garcia

Duet with Lucienne Renaudin-Vary

Sextet “NEUF”
when Beethoven meets the accordion