Her solo concert videos on the rooftops of Paris have been around the world during Covid. The famous Franco-Belgian cellist Camille Thomas takes us to yet another dimension with the release of this trilogy "The Chopin Project" on Deutsche Grammophon. A record - an event that, in addition to connecting us to Chopin's music - "my favorite piano music" - introduces us to a little-known part of his work, the cello adaptations by the composer's close friend, Auguste Franchomme.

A talented musician, invited to play on prestigious stages, Camille Thomas shows herself here as an outstanding storyteller. With this triple album, she weaves a unique story that takes us to Japan via the BNF... "It was while searching through the work of Auguste Franchomme, at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, that I discovered that he had arranged a huge number of Chopin pieces for the cello," she says. "It's no small thing to learn that Chopin had allowed his best friend to get hold of his pieces! When I came across these scores, representing hours and hours of music, I opened Pandora's Box!" And to compose an album bringing together the complete Chopin chamber music, these famous cello arrangements and the legacy of Franchomme himself.

Last but not least, the album was recorded using a cello with which Franchomme composed his pieces with Chopin. A rare "Stradivarius Feuermann" made in 1730 that has crossed the centuries, preciously preserved today by the Nippon Music Foundation in Tokyo and lent to the talented Camille... The album, which ends with the voice of Jane Birkin, performing - one last time - "Jane B" written by Gainsbourg on a prelude by Chopin, takes us on a far journey, beyond the notes, into the secrets and memories of this extraordinary witness.

Romaine Gary

His writings carry me, comfort me, give me hope and the courage to continue. I have read all of his books and come back to them often. In particular, one of them, "The meaning of my life", which is the written transcription of one of his last TV interviews. One of my bedside books. Even if we know that he ended up ending his life, despite his tendency to melancholy and his lucidity on the human condition, there is always, in Romain Gary, an extremely political and loving way of seeing life. He talks about women and the love he had for them. This very short book (also published in Pocket editor's note) is the testament of one of the most brilliant men. He trusted in the power of love and in the ability of art to convey beauty and hope.

Sarah Bernhardt

I love it and have read many books about Sarah Bernhardt. I recommend her memoir "Ma Double Vie". I really liked the exhibition dedicated to her at the Petit Palais (until August 27). So much so that I have a poster of her in my workroom... She is a woman who knew how to invent her life. She saw her life in a big way, she was free. She shows that you can create a lot with your imagination and that you have to dare to be yourself. And, then, she had panache. With her, it was panache with grace! She was not a theater actress who had an extraordinary voice on stage. But her stage presence surpassed everything else. She burned with her whole being and gave everything. She inspires me with this extreme and intense side.

African American female jazz singers

Between Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone particularly touches me for her fight as a committed woman. She would have liked to make classical music, but at the time a black woman could only play jazz. She still managed, despite a hard life, to find her way. In particular the title "Tomorrow is my turn". Or "Wild in the wind", absolutely sublime but sadder... What particularly touches me, and even brings me closer to her: Nina Simone is a woman who gives joy and pep. We can dance to her music, she makes us feel more alive. So she gave a lot on stage, and yet, she is a woman who suffered.

She raises the question of this antagonism between the stage and the reality of an artist's personal life. I sympathize. Giving to the public is wonderful. But you have to be able to find a balance. There are no great artists who are not a little burned inside... Because when you are driven by the desire to give and transmit, there is necessarily something a little consumed. Seeing this in these great talents always moves me a lot.

Alicia Keys

I knew her shortly before devouring her book "More myself" on her life and precisely her journey to achieve being herself. It's also by being truly authentic that you touch people. This is true generosity, true sincerity. And it is a learning. When you are a young artist, you can find yourself a bit overwhelmed, not really daring to trust your instincts. Alicia Keys rightly says that her first album “Falling” had been refused by her music house. A personal album, but which did not fit into any box. Finally she left this house, to release the album elsewhere, and we know how successful it was! She is more and more this woman who dares to be herself.

Sakura in Tokyo

This year, in April, I was in Tokyo for only 24 hours. Luckily, it was cherry blossom time. Magic. I was able to take advantage of it, by going to a park, near Century Hall, in the center of Tokyo, in the evening, then very early the next morning, in order to admire the spectacle. It looked like a garden under the snow. An almost mystical experience. Because also, for the Japanese, it is a key moment. Everyone was talking about it, asking me “have you seen the trees? It is a culture where nature is omnipresent and shared. It was crazy, something very strong.

Paris rooftops

Paris for me is the rooftops! There were, during confinement, the videos, very followed, that I made while playing the cello on my roof. I have always lived under the roof! I love the romanticism of the gray zinc of Paris. I feel good there, with the feeling of being above the bustle of Paris and the stress that a big city engenders… I live just opposite the Sacré Cœur. This view is my anchor. I have a particular affection for this monument. All in white stone, it reflects the light of the sky, and therefore it changes color all the time. I feel at home there. And since I travel a lot, each time I return, I open the window. There is the Sacré Coeur and it is beautiful.

The Turkish series "Club"

In my penultimate album “Voice of Hope” the Turkish pianist and composer Fazil Say dedicated a concerto for cello and orchestra to me, “Never give up”. Thanks to him I have a very strong link to Turkey. I travel a lot to Istanbul, Ankara, Bodrum or even, this year, to Izmir… This is how I discovered the Turkish series “Club”. The story of Turkey told through the life of a mother and her daughter. The episodes allow us to understand many things about Turkey today that we don't necessarily hear about at the moment. It's a huge civilization, and this series moved me to tears.