The purely acoustic string quartet and electronic instruments represent two very different musical aesthetics and are rarely heard together in concert. While it seems obvious that they can resonate together, can the overtone-rich timbre of a Stradivari meld with simple synthesized sinusoidal square waves?

Corruption? Assimilation? Liberation?

Quatuor Ébène, a veritable laboratory of sound exploration for 23 years now, and Xavier Tribolet, a poet of electronic waves, will embark on this bold but promising blend.

In compositions of their own and new arrangements, inspired by selected artists (Fauré, Messiaen, Pärt, Monk, Ellington, Mingus, Shorter, Aphex Twin) the five musicians venture into unusual creations, rhythms and harmonies - all this in the natural volume of their acoustic instruments. And, of course, some vocal chords will swing as well...