Catherine Cournot Concerts

Experience Catherine Cournot

Catherine Cournot is a French composer and performer specializing in the viola da gamba, particularly the seven-string bass viol. Born in 1978, she is renowned for revitalizing and expanding the instrument’s repertoire beyond its historical performance practice roots. Cournot studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris with Philippe Pierlot and Jordi Savall, establishing a foundation in both baroque and contemporary techniques.

Her career distinguishes itself through a dedication to commissioning new works specifically for the viola da gamba. She has collaborated extensively with composers like Kaija Saariaho, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Unsuk Chin, premiering numerous pieces that showcase the instrument’s previously unexplored sonic possibilities.

Cournot’s discography includes critically acclaimed albums such as “Espaces Sonores” (2013) featuring works by Saariaho, and “Visionnairres” (2018), exploring 20th and 21st-century compositions. She frequently performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, appearing at prestigious venues like the Philharmonie de Paris and the Berlin Konzerthaus.