Plein-Jeu à Saint-Séverin
The organists
François ESPINASSE
Born in 1961, François ESPINASSE studied at the Conservatoire National de Région of Toulouse. Premier prix in organ in Xavier DARASSE's class in 1980, he perfects himself with André ISOIR the year after. He won the international competitions of Toulouse (contemporary music in 1986) and Tokyo-Musashino in Japan in 1988.
Co-tenured organist of Saint-Séverin church in Paris, he is teacher of organ at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon. In 2010, he was appointed tenured organist "by quarter" of the organ of the Chapelle Royale of the Château de Versailles. He was also a reporting member of the High Commission for Historic Monuments (organ section) from 1994 to 2022, and a member of the artistic committee of the Chartres Competition.
His career as a concert performer and guest teacher for masterclasses led him to perform in more than twenty countries so far. He is also regularly invited to participate in the juries of international organ competitions.
His recordings have been acclaimed by the critic.
Keen on contemporary creation, he regularly collaborates with composers, more particularly Gilbert AMY, Betsy JOLAS, Philippe HUREL and Bernard FOCCROULLE whose works he gave several premières.
Véronique LE GUEN
Véronique LE GUEN is tenured organist at the Kern organ of Saint-Séverin church in Paris since 2013. In addition, she is also deputy-manager of the Academy of Church Music and Arts of Sainte-Anne church in Auray (Morbihan). The Academy has been founded in 1999 , as Auray is the most important place of pilgrimage in Brittany. Surrounded by a dynamic team involved in an original project, Véronique is in charge of studies, accompanies the Sainte-Anne d’Auray children’s choir and is also the choirmaster of the Camerata Sainte-Anne.
She is very engaged for Brittany, her native soil, thus she undertakes numerous projects having for center the organ: teaching, liturgy, cultural and patrimonial activities.
Furthermore she is giving concerts in France and abroad, performing as a soloist or with various musical companies, since 2004 she is giving duo performances with Anne VATAUX, dancer and choreographer.
After studies under the direction of Pierre FROMENT, Susan LANDALE, Michel CHAPUIS, Olivier LATRY, Huguette DREYFUS and Louis-Marie VIGNE, Véronique LE GUEN graduated at the National Conservatories in Rennes and Rueil-Malmaison, obtaining diploma in piano, organ, chamber music and harpsichord. At the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris she graduated in organ, basso continuo and Gregorian choral conducting. She also obtained the National Diploma and Certificate of Professional Competence and has won prizes at several international competitions.
French critics highly complimented her CDs dedicated to the organ works of the French composers Augustin BARIÉ (2000, Calliope) and Vincent PAULET (2004, Hortus).
In 2014, Véronique recorded César FRANCK’s Three Chorals and Charles-Marie WIDOR’s Symphony n° 4 on the Great organ CAVAILLÉ-COLL in Sainte-Anne d’Auray’s basilica (1rst recording after the restoration done by Nicolas TOUSSAINT). She has also taken part in the recording of the CD “O amor Jesu” by Athenaïs (organ works from NIVERS on the historic organ LE HELLOCO in Josselin (56), as well as in the first collective and amicable recording having for centre the DALLAM-SALS organ in Crozon (29).
Véronique Le Guen has been elevated to the rank of Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts & Lettres in 2009, by culture minister Christine ALBANEL.
Christophe MANTOUX
Organ professor at the Pôle supérieur (PSPBB) and at the Conservatoire régional de Paris, titular organist of the church of Saint-Séverin in Paris, Christophe MANTOUX studied organ and improvisation with Gaston LITAIZE, as well as harmony and counterpoint at the C.N.S.M.D. of Paris. In 1984 he won the Grand Prix for interpretation at the Chartres International Organ Competition, following which he began an international career as a concert performer which has taken him regularly to Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Russia, China, South Korea and Japan. The many authentic instruments from a wide variety of organ building traditions that he plays nourish his thinking as a performer and teacher. His recordings have received critical acclaim.
From 1986 to 1992 he was titular organist at Chartres Cathedral alongside Patrick DELABRE, and from 1992 to 2011 professor of organ at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg. He is a member of the Commission nationale des monuments historiques (section des orgues), and is also invited as a jury member for numerous international competitions and as a teacher for master classes.
