Innate or acquired?
Is curiosity innate or acquired? What was it that motivated me to open that theatre door for the first time? Was it a natural desire for discovery, or a drive prompted by my parents? I cannot say. I distinctly remember how, at the age of 14, ticket in hand, I went to see Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at the Théâtre des Arts in Rouen – the excitement of entering the red room, the curtain at the front of the stage, the chairs, the distinct smell of the theatre. But most of all I recall the joy of finally immersing myself in culture. Having finally moved from the abstraction of my secondary-school lessons to grand emotions, all that mattered now was life! I had an entire life ahead of me to discover the world, gain valuable experiences and have fascinating encounters. Like a drug, culture rolled out the red carpet of opportunity. It was patently clear that after the opera I would also need to attend dance performances, see plays, visit museums … The pretty city of Rouen quickly became too small to satisfy this addiction. A whole world beckoned, voyages of discovery to see first-hand the paintings I had adored in books, to soak up the flavours of foreign cuisines, and to become the citizen of the world that I humbly believe I am today.
Coming to live in Paris was the chance of a lifetime. With its doorway wide open to the world, Paris is a large, beautiful house, with each room steeped in such a rich history that it would take a lifetime to explore. Another lucky chance was meeting Maurice de Galvert, a journalist and friend who has dedicated his life to classical music and has become my mentor. It was he who taught me to be demanding and rigorous in my work. More important still, he taught me to never stop learning.
Like a musician or a dancer, I am fortunate to now be able to live out my passion for classical music. Music & Opera is an international company that produces the “Music & Opera Around the World” guide in three languages, English, French and German. The publication lists the current seasons of the major concert halls, opera houses, dance companies and festivals. M&O is also a website that offers an international ticketing service, global opera news, articles, information, and much more. As artistic director and journalist, I am lucky to be able to live in a perfect example of successful globalisation every single day. From the very start, my trips were punctuated by discoveries of great halls such as the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and the Vienna Musikverein. Today it is a joy to visit new venues still under construction, like the Harpa in Reykjavik. I watch grandiose performances and listen to the perfect sounds of an orchestra on an almost daily basis. Not to mention my encounters with artists. After a show, talking to them about their work sometimes brings me back down to earth in somewhat prosaic manner. But listening to the soft voice of choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui at the Wolfsburg Movimentos Festival is one of those magical moments that are like a blue note, the silence that marks the end of a concert yet is still part of the music. And then there are those light-hearted times, like singing the Countess’s French air from Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades together with Vladimir Ashkenazy! And the affection for young artists like Chen Reiss or my friend Fabrice di Falco.
Without a doubt, the best part of my work is meeting artists, sharing their passion and laughing with them, visiting concert halls, travelling the world … Although classical music is an archetypically European art, it has conquered the world by echoing what is at the heart of all mankind: emotions. Even if the analogy is wrong, what art is more immediately accessible than music? You needn’t understand music theory to be whisked away by a Mozart air or a Schubert Lied. Classical music is omnipresent. In concert halls, of course, but also in lifts, television commercials, major department stores in Seoul, Berlin and New York … I therefore humbly believe that it is my role to act as a bridge between the world of living music and the general public. I seek to democratise music because I think that in an ideal world no one should be afraid to enter a concert hall. It would be wrong to believe that classical music is the sole preserve of the elite, that only elderly and rather wealthy ladies and gentlemen may enjoy the pleasures of the opera. The artists themselves, these contemporary heroes, come from all walks of life, from every continent. The flame of their common passion finds expression in both youth and experience. They keep our heritage alive while at the same time smashing the barrier of time, because thanks to them, Bach’s music is part of our daily life. How can we not love them for it?
The passion that drives their lives also drives mine. We are fulfilled by this innate desire, this thirst for knowledge, for culture. Our lives are nourished by culture, which we gain and deepens with every performance. Whether innate or acquired, is this not the best definition of what makes us human?
Hugues Rameau was born in Dieppe, Normandy, France on 22 October 1967. He began his career at the Cercle Lyrique International while at the same time presenting a radio programme on classical music. He has worked for the IMG Paris artistic agency and was a project manager for Carlson Wagon-Lit Travel. Since 2000, he has been the artistic director of Music & Opera. www.music-opera.com