Conceived from the outset as a flexible work, Ève Noire can be presented in several formats while preserving its artistic identity. This flexibility allows the project to adapt to a wide range of venues, audiences and performance contexts.
Whenever technical conditions allow, three short pre-recorded sound sequences may be incorporated into the performance, extending the dialogue between the performers and enriching the musical dramaturgy.
Concert Version – 70 minutes
The reference version of Ève Noire, centred on the presence of the performers and the dialogue between violin and African percussion.
Through music, stage presence and movement, the two musicians create a living theatrical dialogue that takes the audience on a musical journey across cultures and through time.
Suitable for concert halls, festivals and heritage venues, this version can be presented both indoors and outdoors.
Stage Version – 80 minutes
The stage version combines music with a dedicated lighting design and video projections, creating an immersive theatrical experience.
Filmed primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, the projected images extend the musical narrative and interact continuously with the performers. Together, sound, light and image create a poetic space in which cultures encounter one another and gradually reveal a shared humanity.
This version is designed for theatres and multidisciplinary festivals and may also be presented in a shorter format.
Young Audiences Version – 40 minutes
Designed specifically for children and families, this version is a complete artistic work in its own right.
A discussion with the musicians may follow the performance.
Through the encounter between Western classical music and the musical traditions of West Africa, young audiences discover new sounds, instruments and ways of listening in an engaging and accessible format.
Educational Outreach
Educational activities may be offered either alongside a performance or independently.
Led by the musicians and the composer, these sessions explore the creative process behind Ève Noire, the encounter between two musical traditions, the instruments, performance techniques and the compositional choices that shaped the work.
Depending on the audience, the sessions may include discussions, demonstrations, participatory rhythm workshops or instrument-making activities.
Drawing on her many stays in Africa, Virginie Aster also shares her experience of introducing the violin to children through intercultural encounters.
