Should we deprive ourselves of the pleasure of performing an entire part of music history’s repertoire simply because it was not originally written for the trumpet? It was in response to this very question that Romain Leleu created the Ensemble Convergences in 2010, uniting trumpet and string quintet in a perfect alchemy of sound. Starting from a blank page, Romain Leleu and his five partners—musicians from the finest French orchestras and quartets—have forged their own path, a singular route where anything is possible. Is transcription not just as important as creation itself? Moving between Baroque music, film music, and contemporary works, their original repertoire of unique transcriptions—crafted by ensemble member Manuel Doutrelant—captivates audiences of all kinds. Driven by the desire to create strong bonds with listeners, the ensemble also conducts educational outreach for underserved groups, helping them discover the universality of music and its language.
Their debut album, Sur la Route, released in 2013 by Aparté, received enthusiastic acclaim and quickly became one of the best-selling classical albums of the moment. Their second album, Inspirations, released in August 2016, also won over both critics and audiences. Following the bold album launch that same year at the Alhambra in Paris, the program was performed more than a hundred times and was included in “FIP’s Ideal Library: Essential Albums.”
For over ten years, the Romain Leleu Sextet has toured stages around the world: Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Algeria, Italy, Morocco, Bulgaria, Russia, Lebanon, Turkey, and Mexico. They also perform extensively throughout France, appearing at the Festival International de Colmar, La Folle Journée, the Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise, the Saint-Denis Festival, the Festival du Périgord Noir, the Festival de Sully et du Loiret, the Festival de la Vézère, the Menton Festival, the Flâneries Musicales de Reims, the Folies Bergère, Salle Gaveau, the Festival d’Art Sacré d’Antibes, the Festival des Forêts, the Festival de Chambord, the Grands Crus Music Festival, Classique au Vert, and many more.
In 2020, Ensemble Convergences officially became the Romain Leleu Sextet. In autumn 2021, Face(s) à Face(s), the ensemble’s latest album, was released on Harmonia Mundi, followed by a concert tour in France and abroad. From art music to popular music, this unique ensemble boldly transcends boundaries of style and era!
The Romain Leleu Sextet receives support from Spedidam, the Bureau Export, and the Maison de la Musique Contemporaine.
