Exils

Elsa Moatti, violin

Klarthe Records, Nov. 2021

Elsa Moatti’s family has experienced exiles, departures and separations. life stories all stamped with the seal of exile, and which form the backdrop of this luminous and melancholic album. As we know, there is exile and exile. First of all, we think of the forced exile, that experienced by the paternal family; Algerian Jews assimilated into French society, who had ta cross the sea to settle in France alter Algeria’s independence. In mirror image, another form of exile, “chosen” it seems on the maternal side, with the romantic figure of this American grandmother, of Irish and Jewish origin (with a drop of Amerindian blood), who emigrated to France at a very young age in order to get married.

On the Seine, we embark with Elsa for a musical iourney in the company of some faithful friends. The waves carry us from one bank to another, from one exile to another. Elsa Moatti’s voice joins her violin at times, as if to give life to some voices buried in her memory, because those who are absent accompany us. Melancholy emerges. She dances with joy, the joy of being alive. There is no doubt that Elsa Moatti’s “Exiles” rhyme wilh memory. The memory of Michaël, on “exile” in his own way, a beloved brother whose life was cut short too soon. The memory of a corner of Finland, between sea and forest, and of moments shared with klezmer musicians. Strong and precious moments, in which Elsa drew the light and the energy essential to her rebirth, alter the cataclysm. Time passes, and transports us from one imaginary country to the next imaginary country.[1]Text by Elsa Moatti, from CD booklet

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References
1 Text by Elsa Moatti, from CD booklet

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