Michaël Jarrell: A Composer, A Conductor and An Orchestra

It is fairly rare for a symphony orchestra to interpret the music of a living composer. Michaël Jarrell has just delivered the work that the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande commissioned him. From the first notes to the concert, musicians, composer, conductor, everyone must find their place in the process that will lead them right up to opening night.

The final work of the Geneva composer Le ciel, tout à l’heure si limpide, soudain se trouble horriblement (The sky that was just now so clear has suddenly taken a horrible turn) was commissioned by the OSR for its world premiere in Geneva. It is an exciting artistic adventure, which we follow in this documentary, from its composition to its performance.

Rigorous, accurate and passionate; conductor Marek Janowski alongside his musicians breathes life into this work. To better address and understand it, the conductor says “ you must imagine the sound yourself” and states that, with contemporary music, “ there is reduced freedom of interpretation.”