Raphael Severe

Clarinetist and composer, Raphaël Sévère is one of the most brilliant representatives of the French wind school. A child prodigy, he won the Tokyo competition at twelve and became, at fifteen, the youngest nominee at the Victoires de la Musique Classique. His international career truly took off in 2013 when he triumphed at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York, winning First Prize and eight special awards.

A world-class soloist, he performs on the most prestigious stages—from the Berlin Philharmonie to the Kennedy Center in Washington—alongside ensembles such as the London Philharmonic and the Korean National Symphony. A privileged partner in chamber music, he collaborates with legends like Martha Argerich and Gidon Kremer. But Raphaël Sévère is not content to merely interpret: a recognized composer, his works are premiered in Paris, Vienna, and Hong Kong. His recordings on the Mirare label are consistently acclaimed by critics (Diapason d'Or of the Year, Choc Classica), confirming his status as a total artist whose technical virtuosity is matched only by his creative depth.

At Rocabella, Raphaël Sévère proposes a residency project entitled 'Échos de l'Azur' (Echoes of the Azure), a creative immersion where composition meets the Mediterranean landscape. Inspired by the sweeping sea views and the serenity of the estate's gardens, he wishes to dedicate this stay to writing a new work for solo clarinet and small chamber ensemble. For this composer-performer, the estate is not merely a setting, but a true sounding board.

The goal is to translate into music the contrasts of light and the organic rhythm of the Riviera. Raphaël plans to use the different spaces of the villa to explore the acoustic properties of the place, creating a dialogue between his instrument and the coastal environment. This residency is also conceived as a rehearsal laboratory: he intends to invite chamber music partners to test drafts of his score in situ. This work will culminate in a private performance in the gardens of Rocabella, offering a first hearing of a piece born from the harmony between neoclassical architecture and the azure immensity. A way of capturing, through the note, the vibrant soul of this exceptional sanctuary.