Biography
General presentation
Mezzo-soprano and harpist, Sophie first turned to opera, both in the repertoire and in contemporary creations. She performed roles throughout Europe, the USA and Asia : Orfeo, Orfeo ed Euridice by G.W.Gluck in Berlin, Galathée, Pastorale by G.Pesson at Théâtre du Châtelet, Re-walden by A.Markeas at EMPAC in New York, Nancy Tang, Nixon in China by J.Adams at Théâtre du Châtelet, Candelas in El Amor Brujo by M.D.Falla, Jacqueline, Le Médecin malgré lui by C.Gounod at the Opéra de Saint-Etienne, the title role in Carmen by G.Bizet then the title role in Frédégonde by C.Saint-Saëns at Saigon Opera House in Vietnam, Alejandra in l’Enfer Musical by M.Suarez-Cifuentes created by Le Balcon, etc…
Composer and improviser, Sophie is also a creative force. She began writing songs at an early age, accompanying herself on the harp, which she performed in a number of concerts, before composing for the performing arts.
Artistic director of the Des Lieux & Des Êtres company, Sophie created shows around the voice, combining different aesthetics, repertoire and creations.
During the lockdown, she joined J.Pontier’s composition class at Pôle Sup’93- CRR d’Aubervilliers.
She wrote several pieces for prestigious ensembles and obtained her DEM in June 2023.
Sophie then wrote for the Court-Circuit, Ars Nova, Multilatérale, 2E2M and Accroche Note ensembles.
The Philharmonie de Paris commissioned her to create “Solstice-chant à la lune” in March 2023, and she was then named laureate of the “Territoires en création” scheme launched by the Ars Nova ensemble, which commissioned her several creations for the 2023-24 season
Main achievements
- “Sixième sens” Solo for bass clarinet – Ars Nova Mosaïque commission created by Eric Lamberger – March 2024
- “Le feu & l’eau” melody and repertoire arrangement for a new program of folksongs for harp and vocals, created at the Centre culturel in Sarlat-la-Canéda and then performed on solo tours -July2023
- “La chambre secrète” created by the 2E2M ensemble directed by Léo Margue (flutes, bass trombone, percussion and double bass) – June 2023
- “Solstice-chant à la lune” created by the ensemble Multilatérale, written on a poem by the Persian poet Houshang Ebtehâj – commissioned by the Philharmonie de Paris for contralto voice, harp, piano, violin, cello and clarinets – March 2023
- “Heureux celui qui n’a pas de Patrie” lyric poem created by the Accroche Note ensemble on a text by Hannah Arendt for soprano, clarinets, cello and electric guitar – June 2022
- “De Femmes en Femmes” Concert program and album: arrangements of Sephardic melodies for voice, harp and percussion mixed with compositions, CD distributed by Absilone – November 2021
- “Ode à la terre” lyric poem created by the ensemble Court-Circuit and Eliette Prévot on a text by Amina Saïd for light soprano, oboe, French horn, viola and percussion – June 2021
- “Souffle” Mixed piece created by Philippe Récard (Ars Nova ensemble) and Youssra Khechai for bassoons, cello and tape – February 2021
- “En-Vie” Music and libretto for circus artist Lucie Lastella – commissioned by La Ferme du Buisson- scène Nationale in partnership with Circus Next, Le plus petit cirque du monde, Espace Périphérique – La Villette – March 2020
- “Return, forgetful muse” song written on William Shakespeare’s sonnet 100 for voice and harp – August 2019
- “L’Envol d’Arzach” Lyrical epic for mezzo-soprano voice, harp and percussion – November 2017
Current and future projects
In March 2023, Sophie was named winner of the new “Territoires en création” program launched by the Ars Nova ensemble. She was commissioned to write a new piece : “Sur l’étoffe de mon âme”, based on a poem by Tahéré Qurrat al-Ayn, a 19th-century Persian revolutionary poetess, which she wrote during residencies with the ensemble over the 23-24 season. This musical piece will be published by Les Editions L’OCTANPHARE and created during the Electrosession festival at Saint-Palais-sur-Mer in March 2024.
Then, the Ars Nova ensemble commissioned a Mosaïque piece : a solo for bass clarinet, to be premiered and recorded by Eric Lamberger : “Sixième sens”. It will be released on the web in March 2024.
Then, the Ars Nova ensemble renewed their confidence in her by commissioning a new work. This time for choir, organ and instrumental ensemble : saxophone, brass quintet, accordion and percussion, to be conducted by Jérôme Pillement and created as part of the Royan-Orgues festival in October 2024.
In 2024, Sophie is initiating a new project to write a cycle of melodies for women’s voices (contralto and soprano) and instrumental ensemble or orchestra for artists Aude Extremo and Jeanne Crousaud, based on poetry by Quebec poet Hélène Dorion: “Mes forêts”, which will be a commission by Radio France.
Diplomas
After studying drama (ENM de Noisiel) and Celtic harp, which she learned in the oral tradition with D.Donon, Sophie Leleu obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, in L.Sarti’s singing class. She then moved to Berlin to study singing at the Universität der Künste. On her return to France, she completed a Master’s degree specializing in the art of the Lied at the CRR de Metz in the class of U.Reineman. She continued her vocal training with C.Mathias and then perfected her skills with L.Sarrazin.
She then entered J.Pontier’s composition class at the Pôle Sup’93-CRR in Aubervilliers and obtained her diploma in June 2023.
