Douce-Amère suite for solo piano

How do you represent fragrance in musical form?

This challenge is one that Mathieu explores on his 4th piano release and the inspiration comes from the celebrated French perfumer Serge Lutens.
Douce-Amère is Mathieu’s favourite perfumer from Lutens’ evocative collection: sweet and sour notes contrast in a perfectly balanced and seductive contradiction.

Mathieu’s three parts suite reflects the excitement of that contrast: dissonant clusers take time to reveal the sweetness in the high registers, underpinned by dreamy chords and a driving rhythm throughout, ending on a joyful rhapsodie of musical flavours.

Interpreted by Marie Awadis.

New suite OUT December 11th, 2023.

‘With exceptional piano playing, lovely compositions, and beautiful arrangements, the EP is a triumph that reaffirms Karsenti’s status as a musical visionary, not only in the realms of scoring for visual media but also as a solo artist who invites audiences into the profound beauty of his sonic landscapes.’  – We Write About Music review

‘Douce-Amère is an elegant blend of the composer’s deep roots in impressionism… If not in the richness of its musical ideas, it is definitely the project for piano which displays the most diversity in its vocabulary, as well as a technical expression of the ideas unheard until now. Douce-Amère promises to be enchanting.’ – Doug Thomas review

‘This track pulls you into this fast-paced whirlwind full of intrinsic energy. I loved this alternation of moments of greater tension and turmoil with others where you feel more light and calm…’ – The Hand Editions review