A French composer born June 30, 1962 in Paris.
A pianist and improviser, Thierry Machuel studied composition on his own after having studied at the Paris Conservatory. In residence at the Villa Medici (1996-1998), then at the Casa de Velázquez (1999-2001), he has mainly composed choral works for amateur or professional ensembles and also teaches choral composition. He regularly collaborates with actors, visual artistes, video makers, scenographers as well as authors of texts and poems, the prosody of which he restores, whatever the language. His technique of composition, inspired by the spoken voice, displays a melodic, harmonic and aural invention, and deliberately combines music and noise. Respectful of the text, his music is evocative and accessible despite complex counterpoint. Thierry Machuel shows great interest in the examples and experiences of exceptional lives, and turns towards ‘choral opera’, a form that enables one to follow the epic sweep of a human community. His works include Ave Maris Stella for vocal ensemble (1997); Voir for instrumental ensemble (2000); Le styx, an opera for double chorus (2002); Une femme de parole for chorus and instrumental ensemble(2005); L’encore aveugle, an oratorio for chorus, soloists and orchestra (2007); Nocturnes de Clairvaux for chamber chorus, the result of a composition residence in the prison of Clairvaux (2009); Chants de captivité for violin and piano (2009).
