Dear ICB readers,
I hope this finds you in good health, whether you are living in Latin America, in Asia or elsewhere. In these troubled times, end-of-year celebrations have been unusual, sometimes isolated, but, hopefully, accompanied and aided by music in spite of everything.
A new year begins and with it comes a change of face for the ICB editorial team! As of this edition, I take the reins as editor-in-chief for the publication. But who am I?
Born in France to musician parents and being of French-German nationality, I feel deeply European. Primarily a violinist, I grew up on choral music and the Choralies in Vaison-la-Romaine, in which my father has participated for over 40 years, have sounded for many years like a musical paradise to my ears (something I believe to be not far from the truth!). At the age of 19, I myself took part for the first time. At 21, I undertook an internship at the Europa Cantat festival in Mainz (Germany) and finally tumbled down the rabbit hole that is the international choral world.
My studies in applied foreign languages and, later, in musical administration steered me towards Germany and into the organisation of festivals and concerts, at the European Music Council (EMC) and at Carus-Verlag. However, despite my interest in event organisation, a swiftly burgeoning love of the stage saw me enrol at Folkwang University of the Arts (Essen, Germany) to study singing, choir conducting and musicology. I had the good fortune to work with Helmuth Rilling, Kathy Romey and Hans Christoph Rademann, all hugely important individuals with respect to my development, both musical and personal. Henceforth a freelance singer and choirmaster, editor and translator, I am a member of Frieder Bernius’ Kammerchor Stuttgart, the Figure Humaine Kammerchor led by Denis Rouger and the European chamber choir Cythera, created in 2020 by Mihály Zeke.
Looking to the future, my hopes for the ICB are to grow its creativity, to optimise the geographic and thematic breadth of its content, to further its visibility and to think ‘outside of the box’. I am relying on your cooperation to help me make the magazine one that you anticipate evermore eagerly each trimester! Please feel free to contact me at icb.editor@ifcm.net to suggest articles, authors, CDs or books to review, to propose ideas for a series of contributions, or simply to make known which article(s) you have always dreamed of reading in the ICB. The editorial committee and I are keen to learn about your desires and expectations.
The present edition is unique and offers up a look back on the activity of the IFCM over the past few years. The usual ICB format will be resumed as of the next edition.
I wish you a very happy 2021 – a year filled with music, enjoyed in good health and with the perseverance and adaptability of which we are all so dearly in need at the moment.
Kind regards,
Isabelle Métrope
Translated by Samuel Hemsworth, Poland