When the Forest Speaks: An Intimate Conversation with Award-Winning Composer Jean-Christophe Rosaz
- WOMCO
- Dec 6, 2025
- 6 min read
French composer Jean-Christophe Rosaz has received the Platinum Prize in the Professional (No Age Limit) category for his composition The Forest Speaks to Me at the Georges Bizet International Music Competition 2025 Season 4. The awarded work was presented in its version for tenor and piano, performed by tenor Vincent Karche and pianist Hélène Peyrat, featured in a video produced by Angers Nantes Opéra as part of the event Of Forests & Men, held on January 4th at 6 PM at Théâtre Graslin, Nantes. The competition season ran from 10 July to 10 October 2025, with results announced on 29 October.
To learn more about his award-winning work, we invited Jean-Christophe Rosaz for an in-depth interview about his inspiration, creative process, musical journey, and reflections on participating in the competition. He also shared a personal reflection that reveals the depth of his connection to the piece:
"I would like to personally thank each member of the jury who awarded me this prize for The Forest Speaks to Me. This composition holds a special place in my work because of the superb text by Chief Dan George that accompanies it, and whose message means a great deal to me. Finally, as a great admirer of Bizet's music, and of Carmen in particular, I am doubly honored and delighted by this award, which I hope will open doors for me and lead to professional connections."
Could you please introduce your award-winning composition The forest speaks to me? When and under what circumstances was it created? Could you share the inspiration behind the work and the message you hope to convey through it?
Jean-Christophe Rosaz:
"The forest speaks to me occupies a special place in my work. I have the greatest respect for North American Native American culture (I have read many authors since I was young), and when I discovered this magnificent text by Chief Dan Gerge, which spoke to my heart and soul, the music came naturally: in fact, it is all of nature that speaks to me/us if we know how to listen. We have chosen to live in the countryside surrounded by trees, forets, meadows, vineyards, birds, and animals, alongside the farmers."
What was your creative process like while composing The forest speaks to me? How did you approach the structure and dynamics of the piece?
Jean-Christophe Rosaz:
"It's as if I'm immersing myself in the poem, in the forest, a pulse alluding to Indian drums but which is the very heart of nature beating, coming from the earth. From there a voice (my voice, I am a tenor myself) rises, and I let the lines come, choosing the one I think is the most fitting, the most beautiful, the strongest."
We listened to your music work The Forest Speaks to Me from a live performance recording. Could you tell us about your collaboration with the musicians who performed your work, and share any memorable moments from the rehearsals?
Jean-Christophe Rosaz:
"The interesting point to note is that the tenor who performs it was a lumberjack and has extensive knowledge of trees (he also takes groups to listen and sing in the forest). In any case, we understood each other immediately, being on the same wavelength."
Could you talk to us about yourself, your journey in music, and your future goals? Could you also share your perspective on what defines a great composer in today’s digital age, and what you consider to be the most significant artistic or professional challenges facing musician today and in the coming years?
Jean-Christophe Rosaz:
"As far back as I can remember, I have always loved creating: as a teenager then as a young man, sculpting wood, making musical instruments, wooden furniture, writing poems, short stories, tales then improvising on the guitar which was my instrument, before composing. Then begins a real construction work like a mason. It happens to have been the work of my Italian maternal grandfather. Ennio Morricone has also brought the two professions together! I am always fascinated by building sites. Composing: « putting together » stamps, notes, rhythms, words, voices, instruments…, but also the human encounters with the performers who are our voice, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful aspects. Each time a new adventure, a declaration of love for music!"
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank?
Jean-Christophe Rosaz:
"I would like to thank all my teachers: Georges Alloy, Denis Magnon, Gilbert Amy, Raffi Ourgandjan (student of Messaien), Robert Pascal & Christian Accaoui, who taught me so much and to whom I owe my open-mindedness."
Biography
Jean-Christophe Rosaz
Born in the Alps, of Franco-Swiss nationality and Italian-Argentine origin, he has always been drawn to travel and to encountering other cultures. A graduate of the Lyon Conservatory in classical guitar and composition (counterpoint, harmony, and fugue), he earned a Higher Studies Diploma in Composition from the Lyon National Conservatory and then in film music from the Alfred Cortot School of Music in Paris.
It has been performed all over the world: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cuba, France, England, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA...
In 2024, performances by the Limoges Opera, Roma Tre Orchestra, Uppsala Cathedral Singers, Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir, Magnificat Girls Choir of Budapest, and the Spirito Youth Choir.
In 2023, it was premiered by the Metz Cathedral Choir School, with two performances at the Reims Regional Conservatory.
In 2022, the Lyon Cathedral Choir School premiered the Motet to St. John the Baptist, a new work by Safran.
In 2021, it was programmed at the Limoges Opera and the Angers-Nantes Opera. In 2020, concerts were given in Macedonia, Croatia, and New Caledonia. In 2019, it was performed in Argentina and Switzerland with the Swiss Youth Choir conducted by Nicolas Fink. 2016-17 at the Grand Théâtre de Limoges / Les Grands Concerts Lyon / International Festival of Countertenors Havana / Festival of Voices of the Priory art. réal. Bernard Têtu in 2016-15 at the Concertgebow Amsterdam / St Martin in the Fields / Festival international du Thoronet, guest composer at the Florilège Vocal de Tours, at the Montpellier Festival/Radio-France
Awards
2025 Song of Cork for SATB a cappella choir has received the gold medal in the choral music category of the Claude Debussy International Competition / World Online Music Competitions Organization (WOMCO)
The Forest Speaks to Me for voice & piano (also guitar or orchestra) received the platinum medal in the composition category at the Georges Bizet International Competition / World Online Music Competitions Organization (WOMCO)
2023 AMIDEL Prize (Association of Friends of Éliane Lavail.)
Musica per Archi / Composers Competition Lviv Philharmonic Society - Ukraine / Special mention Amazonia for string orchestra
2022 Composition 1st prize of the 2nd Tiziano Rossetti International Music Competition in Lugano, Switzerland
2016-15 Composer honored for the selection of works to be performed at the National Meeting of the International Singing and Choral Competition of the 44th Tours Vocal Anthology (art. Dir. Loïc Pierre and François Bazola)
2014 Commissioned by IFAC (French Institute of Vocal Art)
2013 Prayer for Peace was chosen for the 2014 Pueri Cantores Congress in Paris.
The Lads of Monleon won the 1st Hispasong International Composers Competition (Spain).
Diligam te, Domine won the 7th Amadeus Choral Composition Competition (Spain).
2012 Chiaro-oscuro for solo double bass received the Grand Prize at the David Walter International Composition Competition, New York, Society of Bassists.
Les Fées du Rhin received the composition prize at the Swiss Children's and Youth Choirs Festival.
2008-2009 Semi-finalist for Frammenti dell' Paradiso (based on a text by Dante Alighieri) at the Fribourg (Switzerland) Sacred Music Composition Competition for Choir.
2006 Lambersart Wind Orchestra Composition Competition.
2000 Basel City Competition for Argizagi: mixed choir.
Lutoslawski International Composers Competition: awarded for Standing Alone on the Mountain (soprano, orchestra or piano).
