DIALOG Across Oceans: Poetry and Colours in Music

Alternative Stage Founding Donor

Major Sponsor of the Greek National Opera

The French Ensemble Mêtis is coming to Greece for the first time to present a unique concert titled DIALOG Across Oceans: Poetry and Colours in Music at the GNO Alternative Stage.

Through this concert, the ensemble pays tribute to poetry, colour, and cultural diversity with a contemporary music programme featuring works by composers  Jean-Luc Hervé (France), Victor Ibarra (Mexico/France), Giorgos Koumendakis (Greece), Zosha Di Castri (USA), Gérard Pesson (France), Yvett Jackson (USA), and Alireza Farhang (France/Iran). By bringing together composers and performers from Mediterranean and American countries, this concert promotes intercultural dialogue and explores the deep connections among music, language, and light. It gives voice to new and poetic creations.

Ensemble Mêtis is one of the most important groups in Nice’s (France) contemporary music scene, dedicated to creating and promoting contemporary music and actively supporting the emergence of new composers. Borrowing its name from Metis, the Oceanid in Greek mythology, the ensemble brings together musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds, drawing inspiration from cultural pluralism. This enables it to maintain strong ties with Nice’s cultural life and collaborate with world-class composers.

Ensemble Mêtis
Founded in February 2024, the ensemble has emerged as a major presence on the contemporary music scene in Nice. Named after the Oceanid of Greek mythology, Mêtis draws its strength from the diversity of its members, who come from varied backgrounds, giving it a unique cultural richness. This diversity is the very source of its name and artistic inspiration, deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the city. Thanks to this plural identity, the ensemble builds close ties with major local events such as the Nice International Music Festival and Academy and engages in fruitful collaborations with a new generation of composers as well as internationally renowned figures. As an ambassador of contemporary music, Ensemble Mêtis’ primary mission is the creation and dissemination of innovative works. Driven by the vision of composer Alireza Farhang, it brings together distinguished musicians: flautist Mario Caroli, pianist Stéphanos Thomopoulos, violinist Violaine Darmon, saxophonist Alberto Chaves, and violist Yona Zekri. Together, they actively promote contemporary music creation and are deeply committed to nurturing emerging talent. Although Nice has long been a thriving artistic centre, the need for an ensemble dedicated to new music and interdisciplinary projects remains undeniable. Faced with the challenges and opportunities of our time, Nice stands at a decisive crossroads. This moment reveals both the fragility and vitality of artistic creation. In this context, the founding of a new ensemble such as Ensemble Mêtis—embodying both artistic innovation and local grounding—represents a crucial step forward. This project, led by a composer and four outstanding performers, symbolises a new beginning, strengthening connections with local, national, and international cultural institutions and stakeholders within a dynamic and fertile artistic ecosystem.