A multi-talented French musician
By Zhou Yubin |
May 4, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MULTI-TALENTED French musician Laurent Couson is a composer, conductor, pianist, writer of musicals and a director.
At his Shanghai concert last week, Couson took the stage as a vocalist, performing songs from his latest album, "Les Raisons de s'en Faire (The Reasons to Make)."
Couson started his musical journey with the horn and piano at the age of five. After winning major awards at the music conservatory in Tours, central France, and at the Natonal Conservatory in Paris, he composed for Radio France. He has also conducted orchestras in Paris, Montpellier, Dresden, Avignon, Toulon, Rouen, Massy and Cannes. With a solid background in the classics, he turned to jazz, performing and recording with French musicians as well as the American legend Quincy Jones.
He has composed several film scores, including one for Claude Lelouch's "Les Parisiens (The Parisians)."
Couson wrote the musicals "Romeos and Juliettes," "Monsieur Luxure" and "Angels and Demons."
In 2010, Couson played the leading role in Claude Lelouch's romance "Ces Amours-là (What Love May Bring)."
At age 35, he has already achieved more than many people achieve in a lifetime.
Q: Why did you shift from classics to jazz?
A: First of all, jazz music is something I've always been interested in and wanted to do. I'm willing to explore a new area in music. Compared with classical music, jazz is more open, free and active.
Q: Has classical music influenced your jazz performance?
A: Yes. Unlike other jazz singers who focus on singing and might just use the piano as accompaniment, I play the piano really seriously on stage. My concert is always a mix-and-match of jazz and classical music, also with some spontaneous performance. I am always inspired by classical musicians, lots of them.
Q: What is your music style in film scores?
A: It depends on the film. It is a very good experience for me because with my background of classical and jazz music, I'm able to compose according to the feeling of the films.
Q: You are also an actor. Since you don't have an acting background, is acting difficult?
A: The difference between being an actor and a musician is that you can suddenly become a very good actor, but you cannot be a good musician out of nowhere.
Q: Since you work in so many areas, such as composition and acting, do you have a priority?
A: My priority is always music. Although I've been played in movies and have several acting offers, I still always prefer to do music, whether for my on concerts or for films. I will not do anything if I don't think I can do it well. As for the things I'm doing now, I think I'm still doing them well. I'm always trying to find new challenges because always doing the same thing might make me bored.
Q: So what's your next step?
A: I want to be a famous star in the Chinese market (laughs). My next challenge is to make the Chinese audience know me and like me through my music. I'm also looking forward to working with the Chinese directors.
Q: What attracts you to China?
A: China is a country that combines tradition and modernization very well. Very few countries can do that. It is a very active country that has made such a big change in 50 years, which is rare in human history.
China also has a gorgeous tradition and culture. France and many other European countries are now quite "immobile." We can't see any activities in those countries. The whole world's energy is now inspired by Asia, especially China.
Q: Do you listen to traditional Chinese music?
A: Yes, I like it very much. I have lots of Chinese music albums at home - although I can't remember their names.
Q: As you are already so successful in so many areas at your age, do you still have musical aspirations?
A: I'm on my way to making my dream come true now: getting more people to listen to my music and like it. I want to compose for more different types of films, letting more people know me through them.
At his Shanghai concert last week, Couson took the stage as a vocalist, performing songs from his latest album, "Les Raisons de s'en Faire (The Reasons to Make)."
Couson started his musical journey with the horn and piano at the age of five. After winning major awards at the music conservatory in Tours, central France, and at the Natonal Conservatory in Paris, he composed for Radio France. He has also conducted orchestras in Paris, Montpellier, Dresden, Avignon, Toulon, Rouen, Massy and Cannes. With a solid background in the classics, he turned to jazz, performing and recording with French musicians as well as the American legend Quincy Jones.
He has composed several film scores, including one for Claude Lelouch's "Les Parisiens (The Parisians)."
Couson wrote the musicals "Romeos and Juliettes," "Monsieur Luxure" and "Angels and Demons."
In 2010, Couson played the leading role in Claude Lelouch's romance "Ces Amours-là (What Love May Bring)."
At age 35, he has already achieved more than many people achieve in a lifetime.
Q: Why did you shift from classics to jazz?
A: First of all, jazz music is something I've always been interested in and wanted to do. I'm willing to explore a new area in music. Compared with classical music, jazz is more open, free and active.
Q: Has classical music influenced your jazz performance?
A: Yes. Unlike other jazz singers who focus on singing and might just use the piano as accompaniment, I play the piano really seriously on stage. My concert is always a mix-and-match of jazz and classical music, also with some spontaneous performance. I am always inspired by classical musicians, lots of them.
Q: What is your music style in film scores?
A: It depends on the film. It is a very good experience for me because with my background of classical and jazz music, I'm able to compose according to the feeling of the films.
Q: You are also an actor. Since you don't have an acting background, is acting difficult?
A: The difference between being an actor and a musician is that you can suddenly become a very good actor, but you cannot be a good musician out of nowhere.
Q: Since you work in so many areas, such as composition and acting, do you have a priority?
A: My priority is always music. Although I've been played in movies and have several acting offers, I still always prefer to do music, whether for my on concerts or for films. I will not do anything if I don't think I can do it well. As for the things I'm doing now, I think I'm still doing them well. I'm always trying to find new challenges because always doing the same thing might make me bored.
Q: So what's your next step?
A: I want to be a famous star in the Chinese market (laughs). My next challenge is to make the Chinese audience know me and like me through my music. I'm also looking forward to working with the Chinese directors.
Q: What attracts you to China?
A: China is a country that combines tradition and modernization very well. Very few countries can do that. It is a very active country that has made such a big change in 50 years, which is rare in human history.
China also has a gorgeous tradition and culture. France and many other European countries are now quite "immobile." We can't see any activities in those countries. The whole world's energy is now inspired by Asia, especially China.
Q: Do you listen to traditional Chinese music?
A: Yes, I like it very much. I have lots of Chinese music albums at home - although I can't remember their names.
Q: As you are already so successful in so many areas at your age, do you still have musical aspirations?
A: I'm on my way to making my dream come true now: getting more people to listen to my music and like it. I want to compose for more different types of films, letting more people know me through them.
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