Concert: Ariège in the Moon
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Hydrated Ariège (N. Fuji, 2025)
This piece, inspired by an idea of Laëtitia Le Pourhiet and dedicated to Leslie Richmond, based on the theme “Arièjo, moun païs” by Sabas Maury, evokes the water(s) around Ariège through time and space.
Once upon a time, a drop of water fell on the Ariège. Long ago, glaciers eroded the valleys, traces of which can still be observed up to Tarascon. The Ariège joins the Garonne just below Toulouse. Once upon a time, the Iberian plate rotated and collided with Europe. It subducted beneath the Eurasian plate, probably dragging seawater deep into the Earth. Once upon a time, there was a drop of water on the Ariège. The Pyrenees are an ideal place to collect water infiltrating into peridotites. It is believed that a hydrogen reservoir may exist there, which we might one day use as a new energy source. Ariège is well watered, and the Ariégeois dance around hydrated materials. Let us welcome Jean-Michel Maury, the composer of the region, at the end of this piece!
Clarinet on the Moon (N. Fuji, 2024)
The origin of the Moon remains mysterious. Among the hypotheses, one of the most famous is that of a giant impact. Could there be a connection with superplumes? Did you know? In Japan, people like to see in the lunar relief the silhouette of a large rabbit. A few seismometers have already been installed on the Moon thanks to the Apollo missions. But in two years, a new instrument designed in Paris will land on the far side. The music unfolds in three movements: I. Rabbit – II. Apollo – III. Farside Seismic Suite; I originally composed it for Hélène Coursaget.
A Trip to the Moon (George Méliès, 1902; N. Fuji, 2024)
Directed in 1902 by Georges Méliès, this film is considered the first science-fiction film in the history of cinema. After a space journey, scientists encounter extraterrestrials inside a very peculiar Moon. Exceptional in length for its time, this very early film was restored, and thanks to the director’s great-granddaughter, Anne-Marie Malthête-Quévrain, secretary general of the Cinémathèque Méliès, I was able to project the restored version at the premiere.
Enigma of the Evolution of the Earth (Nobuaki Fuji, 2023)
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In this piece, I address one of the ultimate goals of Earth sciences: where do we come from? Since no one can reach the centre of our planet, we analyse seismological data to image its present internal state. The evolution of the solid Earth — mantle convection and plate subduction — results from both contributions of all scientific disciplines and our imagination. We explore two superplumes (LLVPs) at the base of the mantle that may be linked to the formation of our satellite, the Moon. The music unfolds in seven movements:I. Enigma – II. Mantle plume – III. Subduction and convection – IV. Partial melting – V. Volcanoes – VI. Super Earth – VII. Enigma