A French composer born July 29, 1975 in Châtenay-Malabry.
A saxophonist by training, Sebastian Rivas evolved within the domains of jazz, rock and improvisation before turning towards the piano and composition. After his university studies in Buenos Aires, he completed his apprenticeship with Sergio Ortega (Pantin Conservatory) and Ivan Fedele (Strasburg Conservatory). He also followed the courses and masterclasses of the Centre Acanthes, Royaumont as well as the computer composition course of Ircam (2004).
A sculptor of matter, he investigates perception, focussing on tone-colour and texture, filtered and complex sonorities (Lineas dispersas, 2008), the indissociable components of formal evolution. His research bears notably on electronic treatment and instrumental gesture, and on the relationships between gesture, movement and sound (Uqbar, 2006). Seeking dialogue with other disciplines and relationships between structure and freedom, he has taken part in various projects, collaborating with dance (Corps Déployés, 2010), the cinema (Red Crab in the Landscape, 2007) and the stage. His opera Aliados (2013), an example of total art, was first performed at the festival ManiFeste, a few months before he took up residence in the Villa Medici in Rome (2013-2015).