Le Salon de Musiques, the chamber music concert series organized by founder and Artistic Director Francois Chouchan, will wrap up its third season at the La Jolla Woman’s Club on Sunday, June 2, with a performance by the Darshan Trio of music by classical composers Chopin, Dvorak and Foote.
The concerts begin with a musicologist introducing the program and are followed by a Q&A with the performers.
The events conclude with champagne as well as a buffet dinner in which the musicians eat among the audience .
The series originated in 2010 in an open space at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of the Los Angeles Music Center.
A pandemic-caused bankruptcy at the Music Center’s catering company caused a shakeup, which meant Le Salon de Musiques had to find a new home. So Chouchan, himself a concert pianist, moved the series to La Jolla.
The La Jolla Light asked the following questions of Chouchan to find out more.
Q. How and when did the organization begin?
A. I always wanted to share my ion for chamber music as it was meant to be: in an intimate space, with the musicians close to the audience, where one could feel the essence of chamber music — the vibrations of each instrument and the magical interaction between the performers.
Q. What is your mission?
A. Sharing my ion for music and for chamber music with people. I also love to reintroduce forgotten Romantic/Neo-Romantic composers to the public. So many amazing chamber music pieces have been left in the drawers, totally neglected or banned, especially during after the two world wars.
Q. How do you put together your concerts?
A. It takes me almost a year to build each season’s program. Each of our nine programs includes one piece by a forgotten composer between the more well-known masters. Choosing the musicians who will play together is also very challenging. I have to pay attention to their sensitivity and abilities to perform together.
Q. What makes Le Salon de Musiques unique compared with similar organizations?
A. The intimate setting and the unique concept, which is comparable to the French salons of the 19th century. Before each performance, our musicologist introduces the program (the composers and the pieces), which allows the audience to listen to the works in an enlightened way. After the concert, we organize a Q&A between the audience and the performers while enjoying French champagne. Then we serve a high-tea buffet catered by The French Gourmet. People sit around large round tables, socialize with the musicians and make new friends.
Q. What’s new with the organization that you want everyone to know about?
A. Our season finale is set for 4 p.m. June 2. The next season (2024-25) will start at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. We are presently offering a discount of 20 percent for those who subscribe to the full season. In addition, all full-season subscribers have a reserved seat at each concert.
We are also organizing a special event celebrating French culture in collaboration with K. Nathan Gallery on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 4 p.m. The program with musical works by French composers Reynaldo Hahn and Louise Farrenc will be paired with the visually stunning paintings of the Post-Impressionist French painter Paul Rivoire. This event, conducted like our regular-season concerts, will be free for our full-season subscribers.
Q. What are the advantages of operating in La Jolla?
A. The wonderful venue, surrounded by so much beauty. The beautiful spirit, appreciation and curiosity of our new patrons.
ission to each Le Salon de Musiques concert is $95 per person ($45 for students) at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. Tickets are available at lesalondemusiques.com or (310) 498-0257.
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