Gilbert Rault
Board Member representing the Groupe Caisse d’Épargne.
« For me, the marvelous adventure with Talents & Violon’celles began in October 2011, on the eastern borders of the Mediterranean, during a musical cruise in which the Trio Wanderer took part! Every evening, after the concerts, all the musicians participated in an exchange about his or her career, life as a professional musician, and details about their instrument.
That evening, Raphaël Pidoux was subjected to journalists’ questions, and after having spoken about his brilliant career, he talked about his instrument, the cello. He described the difficulties that young cellists have in acquiring an instrument worthy of their talent, which greatly penalises them.
Having himself also experienced this difficulty, and was still experiencing it as a teacher at the Paris Conservatoire, Raphaël mentioned that he had created an association, called Talents & Violon’celles, the aim of which is to convince sponsors to buy cellos in order to lend them to young talented musicians who are in the competition phase of their development, through the intermediary of the association he had created.
At that moment, I can still visualise Raphaël, holding his cello in one hand and his bow in the other, opening his arms in a gesture of helplessness and declaring: “To date, I have obtained no results”. Three and a half seconds later I knew I could do something for Talents & Violon’celles !
At the time, I was a Director of the Caisse d’Epargne Rhône-Alpes and my friend Yves Toublanc, President of this same Caisse, was about to become the Group’s National President. Moreover, the Caisse d’Epargne Group, with its 17 Regional Banks, was engaged in a multi-faceted operation called ‘Esprit Musique’…
Since then, 11 cellos have been purchased by 10 Caisses, made by 7 great French violin makers, and lent to some 15 young talented cellists !
Putting together the right people, at the right time, in the right place, once again proved to be the right ‘cocktail’ for the success of any project! And when, in addition, the project creates friendships, there is no need for any further reward ! »