Why Poesia? Because this album explores the cello as a lyrical instrument, with resonances close to the human voice. From the bel canto of Mercadante, a little-known but refined opera composer, to Vanherenthals' flamboyant Rhapsody on the Themes of Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, each work evokes the vocal universe, sometimes with modesty, sometimes with exuberance.

Four cellists from different backgrounds, united by a shared passion for the cello. The Tansman Cello Quartet was formed in 2010 as part of the Violoncelles en Folie Festival. Since then, it has held residencies there every summer.

Marinela Doko, Fernando Lima, Didier Poskin and Karel Steylaerts each speak a different mother tongue, come from three distinct countries – Albania, Brazil and Belgium – but find through the cello a common, rich and universal language.

Their name pays homage to the composer Alexandre Tansman, born in Łódź in 1897 and died in Paris in 1986, author of a monumental oeuvre of more than 300 works. Among them, Two Movements for Four Cellos (1935), rare and captivating, appears on their first album Légende, released in 2015, which had left its mark with its finesse and originality.

Their repertoire spans all periods – from Baroque to contemporary – with a particular fondness for original works for cello quartet. In addition to Violoncelles en Folie, they have performed in France (Messiaen Festival, Beauvais Cello Festival, Musiques en Écrins Festival, Valcroissant Abbey, Salle Cocteau in Paris) and Belgium (Fondation Servais, Festival Arte Amanti, etc.).