Stephane Collin

Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

Music is a way to enjoy a better life and experiment deeper feelings.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

Yes. Or I would say : deeper reality.

If you were not a professional musician, would would you have been?

I have been piano restorer for quite a while. That was more a handcraft, but the same motivation as for writing music. Searching for beauty, and how beauty works.

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about your future?

Not really. I learned quite quickly that I had to be independent from music incomes, which never were cozy.

What do you envision the role of classical music to be in the 21 century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

There are huge transformations in the means by which music reaches the audience. I feel it is a pity for me, who really preferred the way it was before, but I am perfectly confident that younger generations adapt easily to whatever comes up.

Do you think that the classical musician today needs to be more creative? Whats the role of creativity in the musical process for you?

For me, it is all and only about creativity. I myself can not see the point in being in a routine, or doing the usual thing.

Do you think we musicians can do something to attract young generation into the classical music concerts? How will you proceed?

Again, I myself try only to write the best music (to my ears) that I can, and I certainly don't want to alter my creative process in order to make more younger audience.

Tell us about your creative process. Do you have your favourite piece (written by you) How did you start working on it?

It is difficult to say if I have a favourite piece. I like them all, nearly. I write only the things that I can hear, and I wait the needed time to hear something that I like, then I write it down. Of course, the piano helps me hear more accurately what I have inside. Recently I started "writing" at the computer, with sound libraries.

We, Moving Classics TV, love the combination of classical music with different disciplines: music and painting, music and cinematography, music and digital art, music and poetry. What do you think about these combinations?

Of course, I adore this. I did many pieces about poetry, sometimes recitation with music, sometimes songs. Both the music and the text benefit much from the vicinity of each other.

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

Oh yes : drop the nintendo from time to time.

Now it is a common practice in the media to talk that the classical music is getting into the consumption business, do you agree? We are speaking about the supply and demand rules and how to sell your “product” in your case your compositions. How do you see it?

Difficult question. In my career, good music never brought up any money, and I did my best money doing the most stupid things. I try to get my money by other means, and then spend it in my own productions.

Do you have expectations what regards your listeners, your audience?

I do my music as independently as possible, even from the audience. When it is done I put it on the table, and whoever wants to pay interest can do so. When I get feedback; I am happy.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

Right now, I am working on a music-poetry project about a poem of the french poet Paul Claudel. It is very promising, and benefits of good help and energy from a few collaborators. I was recently in Macedonia to record a large strings orchestra for this project.

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