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Trio Helios and François Berléand
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 July 2026 | ||||||
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First Part
While Anton Arensky was deeply influenced by his friendship with Tchaikovsky, he also held a great admiration for his music, particularly his Piano Trio in A minor, which truly established a tradition of elegiac trios. Just a year later, Arensky composed his own Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32, in memory of his friend, the cellist Karl Davidoff, who was the director of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory when he was a student there. The writing is dense, passionate, and grandiloquent: a work that is truly epic, akin to what "War and Peace" by Tolstoy is to literature.
Second Part
Who better than François Berléand, of Russian descent through his father and a great music lover, to express the grating irony and irresistible comedy of the situations abundant in Nikolai Gogol's short story "The Overcoat"? The Hélios Trio responds in music, with a dozen selected excerpts illustrating the highlights of the narrative, drawn from the Slavic repertoire: Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Arensky, Smetana...
THE OVERCOAT based on an original idea by Philippe Cassard, FRANÇOIS BERLÉAND TRIO HÉLIOS This evening of music and literature offers a genuine immersion into the depths of great Russian romanticism. To begin, the splendid first trio by Anton Arensky, a true masterpiece of Russian chamber music, followed by a plunge into the anxious and burlesque epic of Akaki Akakievich, the anti-hero of Gogol's short story "The Overcoat." François Berléand and the Hélios Trio, celebrating their 10th anniversary this season, joyfully reunite in this intense, humorous, and moving performance.
The Hélios Trio was formed in 2014 from a shared passion among three friends for the diverse repertoire for piano trio. Eva Zavaro (violin), Raphaël Jouan (cello), and Alexis Gournel (piano) make up an ensemble that has established itself over the years on French and international stages. Based in Paris, the trio performs in prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall, the Philharmonie de Paris, Salle Cortot, and the Phoenix Hall in Osaka and is regularly invited to festivals like the Auvers-sur-Oise Festival, Evian Musical Encounters, Beauvais International Cello Festival, Les Arcs Festival, Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, Pianissimes, La Roque d'Anthéron Festival, and La Folle Journée in Nantes, Warsaw, and Tokyo. They have had the opportunity to perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto multiple times in Paris, Rennes, Lyon, and Metz. The Hélios Trio has excelled in numerous international competitions: they notably won the second prize at the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition (2019), the second prize at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition (2018), the Kammermusikpreis at the ISA Festival in Reichenau, Austria (2019), and the special Franz Liszt Prize at the Joseph Joachim Competition in Weimar (2019). "D'un matin de printemps," their first critically acclaimed album featuring works by Saint-Saëns, Ravel, and Lili Boulanger, was released in April 2021 by the Mirare label. Their second album, "Bohemia," released in 2023, featuring trios by Smetana, Novak, and Fibich, was awarded a CHOC by Classica. Graduates of the CNSMD in Paris in the classes of Claire Désert, Itamar Golan, and François Salque, the Hélios Trio has regularly benefited from advice from personalities such as the Wanderer Trio, the Ébène, Talich, and Modigliani quartets, Emmanuel Strosser, and Gary Hoffmann. Since 2018, they have also been part of the ECMA Ensemble – European Chamber Music Academy – allowing them to refine their skills across Europe with teachers such as Hatto Beyerle, Johannes Meissl, Patrick Jüdt, and Avedis Kouyoumdijan. The Hélios Trio is represented by the Claire Laballery Agency. They are also an ensemble in residence at the Singer-Polignac Foundation. Raphaël plays a 2020 cello by Frank Ravatin, and Eva plays an Italian violin known as "Le bel Inconnu," combining work from Nicolo Amati and Antonio Stradivari, which is kindly loaned to her.
A theater actor, François Berléand began his career on stage in 1973 under the direction of Daniel Benoin. He worked with this director on about ten productions ("Woyzeck," "The Bald Soprano," etc.). François Berléand continued his theatrical adventure with great names in the field: such as Antoine Vitez for "Hernani" (1985) or Alain Françon for "La Dame de chez Maxim" (1990), and Bernard Murat for "Quadrille" (2011). His latest play, "Encore un instant," was written by Fabrice Roger-Lacan and directed by Bernard Murat (2019). François Berléand is also an essential actor in cinema. He got his first role in 1978 in "Martin et Léa" by Alain Cavalier. Since then, François Berléand has continued to take on roles: notably under the direction of Louis Malle in "Au revoir les enfants," Bertrand Tavernier in "L’Appât," Catherine Breillat in "Romance," and Nicole Garcia in "Place Vendôme." In 2000, François Berléand received the César for Best Supporting Actor for "Ma petite entreprise" by Pierre Jolivet. He was also nominated for the Molière for Best Actor for "Deux hommes tous nus" and received a César nomination for Best Actor for "Mon idole." François Berléand easily transitions from one genre to another. With roles in auteur films, François Berléand is committed to making cinema for the general public, as seen in his performances in "The Transporter" and "The Chorus." From 2019 to 2023, he appeared in many other films: "Deux moi" by Cédric Klapisch, "La bonne épouse" by Martin Provost, "L’esprit de famille" by Eric Besnard, "La Ch’tite famille" by Dany Boon, and "Last Dance" by Delphine Lehericey, not to mention the stage: in 2021, he was directed by Jérémie Lippmann at the Bouffes Parisiens in "88 fois l’infini," and by Bernard Murat in 2022 in "Par le bout du nez," at the Théâtre Antoine.
Program and cast
Program
FIRST PART WITH TRIO HÉLIOS
Anton Arensky: Trio No. 1 Op. 32
Allegro moderato
Scherzo - Allegro molto
Elegy - Adagio
Finale - Allegro non troppo
SECOND PART WITH FRANÇOIS BERLÉAND AND TRIO HÉLIOS
Nikolai Gogol: The Overcoat
Performers
Trio Hélios:
Eva Zavaro, violin
Raphaël Jouan, cello
Alexis Gournel, piano
François Berléand, narrator
Salle Gaveau
The Salle Gaveau, named after the French piano maker Gaveau, is a classical concert hall in Paris, located at 45-47 rue La Boétie, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It is particularly intended for chamber music.
Construction
The plans for the hall were drawn up by Jacques Hermant in 1905, the year the land was acquired. The construction of the Gaveau building took place from 1906 to 1907. The vocation of this hall was chamber music from the beginning, and its seating capacity was a thousand, just as it is today. The hall was home to a large organ built in 1900 by the Cavaillé-Coll|Mutin-Cavaillé-Coll firm. This instrument with 39 stops (8 on the positive, 12 on the recitative, 12 on the grand organ and 7 on the pedal) was subsequently installed in 1957 in the commune of Saint-Saëns in Normandy. The hall is a concert venue renowned for its exceptional acoustics.
The room
In some 110 years, the Salle Gaveau has established itself in the Parisian musical landscape as an essential music venue. Find out the important dates of this hall full of history which has hosted the greatest pianists of the 20th century.
1905 - 1907
BIRTH OF THE GAVEAU ROOM
The land on which the Gaveau building is built was acquired in 1905. The plans for the hall were drawn up with particular attention to acoustics at the end of 1905 by the architect Jacques Hermant . The building was built in 1906-1907 and the Gaveau hall was immediately the prestigious hall in Paris. Its main purpose has always been piano and chamber music but orchestras were often heard there. The number of seats has changed slightly over time to around 1000 seats . The current number is 1020.
1907 - 1908
PROMISING BEGINNINGS
The Salle Gaveau opened its doors for the 1907-1908 season. The first concert was given on October 3, 1907 by the Bremer Lehrergesangverein . It was a vocal concert given with 140 performers. Thus, despite its average dimensions, the Salle Gaveau was not afraid to welcome large groups and it can be noted that from this season onwards, it hosted the Lamoureux concerts which gave concerts there under the direction of Camille Chevillard , Vincent D'Indy , and André Messager .
The 1907-1908 season was very brilliant in the field of chamber music. Cortot, Thibaud and Casals performed the complete Beethoven trios and trio variations there on November 5, 8 and 12. Eugène Ysaye gave a recital there on January 21, 1908. Marguerite Long performed there on December 11, 1911.
1912
ENESCO, KREISLER, CORTOT...
In the field of chamber music , some superb concerts in 1912: Enesco on February 8 with the pianist Eugène Wagner. Fritz Kreisler on April 21 and 28, Wilhelm Backaus on May 15, Cortot, Thibaud and Casals on May 24 and 31.
1933 - 1934
LAMOUREUX AND PASDELOUP CONCERTS
The war did not interrupt the artistic activity of the Salle Gaveau but the hall was used for galas given for the benefit of soldiers or victims of the war.
After the war the hall had a very brilliant period with the Lamoureux and Pasdeloup concerts . Great conductors conducted there: Charles Munch on October 28, 1933.
The great pianist Rudolph Serkin performed on December 2, 1933. Wanda Landowska gave a recital on a Pleyel harpsichord on November 7, 1933. Yves Nat performed Beethoven's sonatas in 1934.
1939 - 1944
A TROUBLED PERIOD
During the Second World War, the hall rediscovered its vocation to host galas.
Berthe Bovy recited fables by La Fontaine .
During the occupation, great soloists were heard: Paul Tortelier, Pierre Fournier, Raymond Trouard, Jacques Fevrier . From 1944, Samson François performed regularly. Germaine Lubin sang melodies accompanied on the piano by Reynaldo Hahn .
1976
RESUMPTION OF THE ROOM BY C. AND JM FOURNIER
Only the bankruptcy of the Gaveau house, which occurred in 1963, came to shake its sustainability...
The building, partly resold to an insurance company, soon lost its splendor. Under pressure from land, the hall escaped in extremis the threat of a parking lot thanks to the saving energy of Chantal and Jean-Marie Fournier , a couple of passionate musicians, who acquired it in 1976 and have kept it alive for 25 years.
1992
THE ROOM CLASSIFIED AS A HISTORICAL MONUMENT
Listed in the inventory in 1982, classified in 1992 in the wake, Gaveau was saved from the worst but in pitiful condition. "Everything was very tired and we were beginning to fear that a seat would give way in the middle of a performance", testify the masters on board who sounded the alarm in order to obtain subsidies for the restoration.
The work, conducted under the direction of the chief architect of historic monuments, Alain Charles Perrot (already officiating on the Paris Opera), aims to restore listening comfort without affecting the unique sound of the hall, the secret of its success.
2001
THE RENOVATION FINALLY COMPLETED
If the sound remains, the tone changes: "The spectators will be very surprised to discover the original stripping and sobriety of this modern room ahead of its time", explains Alain Charles Perrot. The architect has tried to rediscover the strict gray with gold accents of the historical decor, and the originality of the lighting, its bare bulbs "like pearls on the ceiling". Reconstructed identically , the armchairs with metal legs and wooden frames reconnect with the original buttercup yellow.
Restored to its truth, Gaveau is banking on increased attractiveness to seduce a new audience, including companies in the "golden triangle" for private parties. The future of this high-end room is based on a healthy complementarity of activities, always with music shared. The room reopens its doors on January 8, 2001. A reopening concert is then a landmark, with the great Roberto Alagna
on the bill .
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