At the Musicales en Côte Chalonnaise festival, Romain Leleu, the trumpet alchemist

Like most artistic events held in a wine-growing area in the summer, the Musicales en Côte Chalonnaise usually offer a tasting after the concerts. This year, the event, which lasts until Sunday, August 31, crosses the vineyards, stopping at churches. On Thursday, August 28, the Saint-Boil church (Saône-et-Loire) hosted trumpeter Romain Leleu, who has been the festival's artistic director since 2018. With the physique of a wrestler and a baby face, the 41-year-old musician quickly demonstrates that the trumpet remains child's play for him.

Accompanied on the piano by Belgian Julien Gernay, Romain Leleu begins his recital with a competition piece by Théo Charlier (1868-1944). While the handling of the valves evokes the dexterity of a magician, the projection of the sound is even more impressive. Romain Leleu does not seek brilliance at all costs, but a velvety sound that lingers in the ear for a long time.

A change of instrument (B-flat trumpet then C), of universe, more suggestive than demonstrative, and above all of quality of writing with Légende (1906), by George Enesco, masterfully interpreted. Cakewalk , taken from Children's Corner (1908), by Claude Debussy, then takes the soloist from the march of a little soldier to the parade of a clown.

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