Youssoupha

On April 1, 2027, Youssoupha takes over the Zénith de Pau to set his rap in dialogue with a gospel choir and an orchestra. At the center are his writing and his voice; around him, a team forged for the crossing of musical languages: cellist and conductor Olivier Koundouno as musical director, pianist Manu Sauvage, choir director and singer Ayelya Douniama, a gospel choir and the Orchestra of the Conservatory with Regional Influence Pau Béarn Pyrénées.

Conceived without pre-recorded sequences, without a DJ or a rhythm section, the evening privileges rubato, breath and instrumental phrasing. Youssoupha’s lyrics, the Franco-Congolese rapper marked by a proudly asserted Francophone identity, are carried by original arrangements written for the ensemble. The essence of rap is present—its attention to words and to sampling—transposed into orchestral writing that explores colors close to film music and opera.

Here, the verses lean on acoustic timbres: choir voices, cello and piano respond to the flow, establishing a musical narration rather than relying on beats. This creation puts the text in the foreground and opens common ground between rap, gospel and what is called classical music. See you at the Zénith de Pau on April 1, 2027.