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Trans Europe Express

Creative Europe Programme
Project duration:
18 months
(November 1, 2024 – April 30, 2026)

The Trans Europe Express project aims to highlight the contribution of women to contemporary musical composition and to promote gender equality in the European musical landscape, by analyzing their position in countries where parity is still a goal to be achieved.

It offers young female composers a unique opportunity to develop their skills, create original works and make a name for themselves on the international stage.

The project consists of a series of actions, including concerts, masterclasses, workshops for young female composers, commissions of works, conferences, mediation activities, a think tank and an online platform.

Transmission and creation by women in Europe

Since its creation in 2006, the Des Équilibres ensemble has always sought to work internationally, and particularly in Europe. The richness of the encounters and the aesthetic cross-pollination of some of our projects bear witness to this.

Initially specializing in 20th century music, the ensemble approached contemporary creation as opportunities arose, then became passionate about this research work, these constantly renewed universes and the dynamic of working together with composers during the various residencies.

Through our many travels, we have also observed the differences in the development of this contemporary creation within European countries: a weak presence of creation in concert programs, on the one hand, and obstacles to the development of careers for performers or composers, on the other.

This experience has allowed us to highlight clear disparities in contemporary female creative output. Indeed, while the subject is now widely discussed in France, this is not the case in all European countries where equal opportunities are still not a reality: financial obstacles, cultural biases… Much work remains to be done to achieve this equality.

This is how the Trans Europe Express project was born, which, beyond disseminating works through various concerts (eight commissioned pieces that will tour the world), will connect eight renowned female composers from the four selected countries (Spain, France, Hungary, and Malta) with young female composition students through masterclasses, conferences, and workshops. Transmission will be the key: supporting the development of female artists by introducing them to the essentials of creative professions and providing them with the conditions for their growth; making contemporary music accessible to a wider audience, thereby cultivating the audiences of tomorrow.

Finally, the challenges of sustainable development will also be central to our thinking during these two years of work. We will address the issues surrounding touring in order to identify their impacts and devise strategies to reduce them in a sustainable, desirable, and lasting way.

THE PROGRAMME

February 4, 2025, Malta:
Florentine Mulsant, Sonata for Solo Violin No. 5
Erno Dohnanyi, Serenade for string trio op.10
Jean Cras, Trio for viola and cello

March 9, 2025, France:
Florentine Mulsant, Sonata for Solo Violin No. 5
Erno Dohnanyi, Serenade for string trio op.10
Jean Cras, Trio for viola and cello
Wolgang Amadeus Mozart, Prelude and Fugue in D minor, K. 404a, n°1

May 14, 2025, Hungary:
Timea Dragony, César Franck piano trio, Trio Concertant n°2 op. 1 in B flat major
Joaquin Turina, Trio n°2 op.76 in B minor

May 22, 2025, Spain:
Marian Marquez, Conrado Del Campo String Quintet, Trio for violin, viola and cello no.1 op.37
Heitor Villa-Lobos, Assobio a Jato, W493, for flute and cello
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Duet for violin and viola in G major, KV 423

June 7, 2025, Spain:
Marian Marquez, String Quintet
Conrado Del Campo, Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello No. 1, Op. 37
Heitor Villa-Lobos, Assobio a Jato, W493, for Flute and Cello
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major, KV 423

June 21, 2025, France:
Florentine Mulsant, Sonata No. 5 for solo violin, Op. 128
Andrea Szigetvari, String Trio
Véronique Vella, String Trio

September 20, 2025, France:
Heitor Villa-Lobos, Assobio a Jato, W493, for flute and cello
Florentine Mulsant, Sonata for solo violin, Op. 128, No. 5
Joaquin Turina, Trio No. 2, Op. 76 in B minor (piano and strings)
Edith Canat de Chizy, Piano Trio / PREMIERE

September 21, 2025, France
Anna Malek, Piano Quintet
Mel Bonis, Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat major, Op. 64
César Franck, Trio Concertant n°2 op. 1 in B flat major

September 27, 2025, France:
Edith Canat de Chizy, Piano Trio
César Franck, Trio Concertant n°2 op. 1 in B flat major
Joaquin Turina, Trio no. 2 opus 76 in B minor

October 3, 2025, Malta:
Mariella Cassar Cordina, Piano Trio
César Franck, Trio Concertant n°2 op.1 in B flat major
Joaquin Turina, Trio No. 2 op.76 in B minor

October 4, 2025, Malta:
Mariella Cassar Cordina, Piano Trio
César Franck, Trio Concertant n°2 op. 1 in B flat major
Veronique Vella, string trio

October 4, 2025, Spain:
Anna Malek, Piano Quintet
Timea Dragony, Piano Trio
Mariella Cassar Cordina, Piano trio

December 02-06, 2025, Hungary
Andrea Szigetvari, String Trio
Erno Dohnanyi, Serenade for string trio op.10
Jean Cras, Trio for violin, viola and cello

January 31, 2026, Spain:
Véronique Vella, String Trio
Andrea Szigetvari, String Trio
Marian Marquez, String Quintet

Date to be confirmed, Spain:
Véronique Vella, Excerpt from String Trio
Andrea Szigetvari, String Trio Excerpt
Marian Marquez, Excerpt from String Quintet

April 19, 2026, France:
Andrea Szigetvari, String Trio
Erno Dohnanyi, Serenade for string trio op.10
Jean Cras, Trio for violin, viola and cello

Creative Europe Programme
Project duration:
18 months
(November 1, 2024 – April 30, 2026)

artistic team

Violin: Agnès Pyka
Cello: Éric Villeminey, Javier Lopez Escalona, Jordan Costard
Viola: Jean Sautereau
Piano: Balint Barath
Flute: Alfonso Rubio, Claudia Fernandez Alvarez
Clarinet: Pierre Génisson
Harp: Marcel Cara

CONCERTS

FROM 3 TO 9 FEBRUARY 2025: MALTA, VALLETTA:
Concert: February 4 at 8 pm at the Concert Hall (Malta Society of Art)
FROM 9 MARCH 2025: FRANCE, CHAMPS-SUR-MARNE:
Concert: March 9 at 5 pm at the Music Room of the Château de Champs-sur-Marne
FROM 12 TO 15 MAY 2025: HUNGARY, BUDAPEST:
Concert: May 14 at the French Institute of Budapest
FROM 20 TO 23 MAY 2025: SPAIN, MADRID:
Concert: May 22 at the French Institute of Madrid
FROM 4 TO 7 JUNE 2025: SPAIN, GIRONA :
Concert: June 7 at the Church of L’Escala
FROM 20 TO 21 JUNE 2025: FRANCE, MARSEILLE:
Concert: June 21 at the Cantini Museum
FROM 18 TO 21 SEPTEMBER 2025: FRANCE, FONT ROMEU:
Concert: September 20, Font Romeu Casino;
Concert: September 21, Font Romeu Casino.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2025: FRANCE, CHAMPS-SUR-MARNE:
Concert: September 27, Music Room, Château de Champs-sur-Marne.
FROM SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 4, 2025: MALTA:
Concert: October 3 – Spaziu Creative;
Concert: October 4 – Our Lady of Victory Church.
FROM OCTOBER 26 TO 31, 2025: SPAIN, SEVILLE:
Concert: October 4 – Espace Turina.
FROM DECEMBER 2 TO 6, 2025: HUNGARY:
Concert: Venue: Nador Terem.
FROM JANUARY 24 TO 31, 2026: SPAIN, SEVILLE:
Concert: January 31 – Espace Turina;
Concert: Loyola University. Date to be confirmed.
1st Quarter 2026: FRANCE, SAINT-MAXIMIN:
Concert: April 19, 2026 – The Crossroads of the Arts

MASTERCLASSES, WORKSHOPS and CONFERENCES

As part of this project, composers and performers will lead masterclasses for students from universities and conservatories in various countries. These masterclasses, focused on composition and performance, will allow participants to explore new musical perspectives through innovative techniques and enriching exchanges.

February 5 and 6, 2025 (MALTA)
June 23 to 25, 2025 (MALTA)
September 30 to October 4, 2025 (MALTA)
October 26 to 31, 2025 (SPAIN, SEVILLE)
January 24 to 31, 2026 (SPAIN, SEVILLE)

The workshops offer young female composers a unique opportunity to develop their skills and establish themselves artistically. In addition to masterclasses, they will be commissioned to write short pieces. They will benefit from the guidance of established composers and performances by internationally renowned ensembles.

June 22-24, 2025 (MALTA)
September 30-October 4, 2025 (MALTA)
October 26-31, 2025 (SPAIN, SEVILLE)
January 24-31, 2026 (SPAIN, SEVILLE)

The invited composers will share their artistic process with the public, notably presenting the work created for the TEE project. These talks will also explore the place of contemporary music within each country’s music industry and examine the contribution of women to contemporary composition in these four countries. Analyzing the observed differences will help identify the reasons for these disparities.

In order to encourage interaction between the public and the artists, several mediation activities will be implemented: either at the edge of the stage or during public rehearsals.

Days of reflection (think tank) will be organised throughout the project in order to refine its content and directions.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Artistic actions:
France, Hungary, Malta, Spain

Institutional partners:
European Union
France: Château de Champs-sur-Marne, Ensemble Des Équilibres, OCP Font Romeu, Opéra au village
Hungary: Foundation Egy Hangversenyteremért Alapítvány, French Institute of Hungary
Malta: Din l-Art Helwa, SCAC Malta
Spain: Associacio Cultural Pau Casals, French Institute of Spain, Zahir Ensemble
Other partners: SPEDIDAM, SACEM, ADAMI, CNM, Tax credits

Additional programmers:
Musée Cantini (Marseille), Victoria Arts International Festival (Gozo, Malta)

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