Les voix des Terres rouges

The Orchestre National de Metz wanted to present a participatory choral project with two historical entities of the cross-border choral landscape: INECC Mission Voix Lorraine and INECC Luxembourg. This project is part of a collective amateur practice and not a collective practice 'in amateur' and it is with this axis that we wished to revive the history of choral singing in order to present a choir and orchestra creation. To do this, we thought of commissioning a composer so that the creation could be adopted collectively, a creation that would be based on the participants, the region, its history, its cultural, social, historical and geographical heritage. We plan to call on the Luxembourg composer Catherine Kontz, who knows the region well, likes to work with voice and has an international reputation. 

The objective is to invite amateur choirs from the region - of all levels, adults and children - to join the Orchestre national de Metz in performing a new work inspired by the region's industrial past (notably through the use of different sound materials) and the diversity of its cultures today.  

With this in mind, we would like to commission Catherine Kontz to write a work for amateur choirs (adults and children) and orchestras. For the libretto, the composer may use existing texts or decide to commission a specific libretto. We have already contacted Catherine Kontz, who has confirmed her interest in the project and is keen to be involved. A meeting has been scheduled for early September to work on it. 

This participatory project will bring together amateur choirs (children and adults) to work throughout the year 2021/22, leading to concerts in June and July 2022.

Text provided by the project partner