Formerly known as the Salle Patiño, La Cité Bleue is a concert hall located in an octagonal 1960s building within the Cité Universitaire in Champel. Recently renovated, it features high-tech acoustics and has a seating capacity of 300. The venue aims to promote performances that bring together leading artists from music, theater, dance, visual arts, and circus arts.
Sufi’s Saraband is a mystical fusion of Sufi music, poetry, and dance, blending Persian modal traditions with Baroque Western styles. Featuring The Modal Experience ensemble, the performance pairs 13th-century poet Rūmī’s verses with those of modern Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzad.
Inspired by the whirling dervishes’ dance, it combines hypnotic movement, soulful singing, and a rich dialogue between Eastern and Western instruments. Under Keyvan Chemirani’s direction, Sufi’s Saraband offers a captivating journey of spiritual ecstasy and transcendence.
Premiering on August 17, 2024, at the Théâtre du Jorat (Mézières, VD), Graals is a bold and hybrid stage work that blends theatre, opera, and myth. With a libretto and staging by Luc Birraux, and music by Kevin Juillerat (for baroque instruments and live electronics), the production interweaves excerpts from Henry Purcell’s King Arthur with a contemporary score.
The piece reimagines the legend of the Holy Grail, tracing its origins through the journey of Joseph of Arimathea and Mary Magdalene as they navigate a world of early Christianity, pagan rites, and shifting beliefs. Between faith and superstition, sacred and profane, Graals offers an immersive, time-bending exploration of one of Western culture’s most enduring myths.
Conducted by Antoine Rebstein, this meeting of ancient and modern sounds creates a unique musical language—both rooted in tradition and boldly experimental.
In this vibrant concert, Mariana Flores pays tribute to the women of Latin America, expressing their loves, sorrows, and joys through popular Argentine songs. She especially honors Alfonsina Storni, the great early 20th-century Argentine poet whose work profoundly influenced Latin American literature and inspired many songs, including the unforgettable Alfonsina y el mar by Mercedes Sosa. Accompanied by Quito Gato on piano and guitar—who arranged the music—and Romain Lecuyer on double bass, Mariana invites the audience to discover the most beautiful songs of Argentina.
Created by visionary choreographer Mourad Merzouki, this show reimagines the iconic Boxe Boxe by Compagnie Käfig and the Debussy Quartet. It explores the connections between dance, boxing, and classical music, infused with the vibrant energy of Brazil. The result is a unique stage experience blending hip-hop dance, boxing movements, and classical music enriched by Carioca influences.
The musical score, reworked with the Debussy Quartet, supports this bold fusion. A true choreographic challenge, the performance celebrates dance’s power to transcend genres with infectious energy and boundless creativity. Let the celebration begin!
Selected Harpsichord Works by Louis Couperin
(Chaumes-en-Brie, 1626 – Paris, 1661)
La Cité Bleue hosts the second edition of the Radu Lupu Prize, paying tribute to the legendary Romanian pianist, who would have turned 80 in November 2025. Known for his poetic and introspective interpretations, Lupu remains a major influence in classical music.
Launched by the Radu Lupu Foundation, the prize supports emerging pianists. Following in the footsteps of first laureate Vsevolod Zavidov, this year’s winner will be featured in a recital celebrating Lupu’s enduring legacy.
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