Scheduled for September and October 2025, the fourth edition of The Modern Composers International Music Festival (ModComFest) organised by its President Konstantin Ishkhanov titled Portrait des Compositeurs d’Aujourd’hui: Michel Petrossian, will soon unfold in Italy and Paris, celebrating the exceptional work of Michel Petrossian, a visionary French-Armenian composer lauded for his ability to merge the richness of ancient civilisations with futuristic soundscapes.
Petrossian rose to international prominence in 2000 when Académie des Beaux-Arts de L’Institut de France awarded him the Prix Veuve Buchère and then again in 2012 when he won the Grand Prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Composition Competition. Since then, his diverse repertoire spans concert halls, film scores, ballet, and opera, with performances at esteemed venues like Carnegie Hall and Théâtre du Châtelet.
Featuring dazzling concerts spanning symphonic, chamber and vocal music as well as ballet, ModComFest 2025 will host musical performances at iconic venues, with renowned musicians bringing the illustrious composer’s works to life. The festival will open on September 14, 2025 with a concert in Chieti’s Teatro Marrucino.
It will proceed on September 20, 2025, in Paris at the Auditorium du Petit Palais with Chanter l’icône, performed by Ensemble Musicatreize under the baton of Roland Hayrabédian. On October 2, 2025, it continues at the Auditorium du CRR de Paris with a performance of 8.4 Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, ‘La lutte ardente du vert et de l’or’ for piano solo, ‘Stilleven’ for solo violin, ‘Vénus de Lespugue’ for solo viola, Claude Debussy’s ‘L’après-midi d’un faune’ and György Ligeti’s Etude pour piano by soloists Alexander Chaushian, Elsa Grether, Chae-Um Kim and Karine Lethiec, accompanied by contemporary French musical choir Ensemble 2E2M and conducted by Léo Margue. The festival concludes on October 3, 2025, at the Théâtre de Saint-Maur with Sept, les anges de Sinjar, a spellbinding collaboration of music and ballet featuring The Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, Bruno Mantovani and dancers from Compagnie Hallet-Eghayan.
As ModComFest soon approaches, Michel Petrossian reflects on the festival’s significance, his multifaceted artistic journey that brought him here, and his goal to bridge cultural gaps and connect with audiences through the power of music.
As the Composer-in-Residence for the 2025 edition of the ModComFest, could you share how you developed the concept of the project?
Konstantin Ishkhanov reached out to me explaining that he organises a festival for important composers from around the world and expressed interest in featuring my pieces. Following our conversation, we developed three concepts for the concert, highlighting important aspects of my life and work. The first is my vocal music, which will be showcased at the Petit Palais, one of the most influential museums in the heart of Paris. The second concept is a ballet inspired by Yazidi imagination and mythology, co-written with Aram Hovhannisyan, which premiered at the Monte-Carlo Spring Arts Festival. Last but not least, we have the Cello Concerto with Alexander Chaushian and an intriguing ensemble called 2E2M.
Your music often draws inspiration from ancient civilisations and historical texts. What motivated this connection, and how does it influence your compositional process?
I have always had a deep interest in spirituality and ancient civilisations, which led me to complete a doctoral scholarship in ancient languages. During my studies, I discovered that ancient people regarded both the sound and meaning of a text as essential. This distinction between sight and sound was fascinating, and the musicality inherent in these writings captivated me.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the works in your programme and what ties them together?
Music shouldn’t be superficial; it should touch the soul — that’s the criterion I follow when selecting works. I didn’t want to include unknown compositions; instead, I aimed to present pieces that have already been performed well and to explore them deeply in interpretation.
Soloists and conductors often bring their unique interpretations to a piece. How open are you to allowing them to make your compositions their own?
To be a composer, you must have a strong personal identity; otherwise, you risk not existing as an artist. I’ve had the privilege of hearing some of my works interpreted by excellent musicians, and I believe that if you can perform this music, you are an artist and my equal. Therefore, I’m eager to hear how you can make it your own.
How important is a project like ModComFest in the current cultural climate, and how beneficial can it be in introducing new audiences to classical music?
I sincerely hope that my music will attract not only friends and familiar faces but also new audiences. My goal is to bridge gaps and bring people together, uniting us in something greater than ourselves. I believe the role of creators today is to remind us of our shared humanity and ability to appreciate beautiful things. As artists, it’s essential to maintain a sense of adventure and openness to new experiences.
Visit modcomfest.com for more details about the Festival, Michel Petrossian or Konstantin Ishkhanov and announcements ahead of the upcoming fourth edition.
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