The Most Beautiful Ave Marias, La Vie en Rose, and Hymn to Love in Montmartre

About the Event

A unique concert in the heart of Montmartre at the Church of Saint‐Jean de Montmartre, where Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” works by Schubert, Bach, Caccini, and Verdi, and Mozart’s “Ave Verum” will be performed alongside the most beautiful pieces of French music. You will also hear the world premiere of “Sainte Cécile,” composed by Paul Mancini.

Les Artistes de l’Opéra: Excellence in the Service of Music

Represented by Michèle Deschamps, former concertmaster of the Paris Opera and president of All4Opera, they are led by cellist Éric Zorgniotti. The ensemble champions classical and sacred compositions and is distinguished by its collective harmony and artistic sensibility.

Born in 1997 into a family of musicians, Charles Gaugué trained at the CRR in Paris and the HEMU in Lausanne, then earned a master’s degree at the CNSM in Paris under Raphaël Pidoux and Marc Coppey. He attended masterclasses with Frans Helmerson and Philippe Müller.

He won second prize at the Flame International Competition in Paris in July 2022 and was subsequently recruited for the 2022–2023 season by the Jeunes Talents association. Having participated in numerous chamber music festivals, he performed alongside Gautier Capuçon in July 2022 as part of the “Un Été en France” tour. In April 2023, he won First Prize at the Online International Slava Cello Competition and took part in the prestigious ARD Competition in Munich in September 2024. He performed as a soloist in Joseph Haydn’s First Cello Concerto in February 2025 with the Orchestre du Palais, and that

same year with the Orchestre Les Concerts Gais. An eclectic musician, he performs regularly at the Paradis Latin with a more contemporary repertoire, as well as at the Eiffel Tower as part of the Candlelight Concerts.

La Vie en rose (1945/46): Piaf’s iconic song, co‐written by her to music by Louiguy. It celebrates the euphoria of love and a life transformed by love. An international standard covered by Louis Armstrong, Lady Gaga, and others.

“Hymne à l’amour” (1949/50): written by Piaf to music by Marguerite Monnot, often associated with her relationship with Marcel Cerdan, who died shortly thereafter. A declaration of absolute love, ready to face anything—more tragic and self‐sacrificing than “La Vie en rose.”

Together, the two songs illustrate two facets of Piaf’s conception of love: euphoric lightness on one hand, tragic intensity on the other.

Held in the stunning acoustics of the Saint‐Jean de Montmartre Church—a blend of Art Nouveau and early 20th‐century innovation—the concert promises a setting that enhances the music’s vibrancy. Its acoustics perfectly reproduce the seamless sound of the strings, creating an immersive experience. This unique fusion of the soloist’s excellence, the ensemble’s mastery, and a historic venue guarantees a concert of rare beauty, in perfect harmony between sound and space.