Solo Challenge #8 : Pascale Rubens (diatonic accordion, BE)

We know Pascale as the accordionist of the group Naragonia, who always manages to surprise with her beautiful compositions. Pascale initially followed classical violin studies but fell in love with the diatonic accordion at the age of 18. In 1999, she founded the duo Musaraigne together with cellist Hannes Pouseele. The duo toured extensively in Belgium and abroad, and in 2005 released the CD “Convoi exceptionnel”. In that same year, Musaraigne represented our country at the EBU Festival in Gdansk (Poland). Three years later, Pascale became the new accordionist of Griff, which proves once again that many folk bands are after her talent. In 2003 Pascale founded the duo Naragonia together with Toon Van Mierlo. That was the beginning of a success story because Naragonia soon became one of the most popular folk groups in our country and abroad. In 2020, she started a new duo together with her sister Véronique Rubens: Systrar. With the support of Visit Brussels. Production: https://www.muziekpublique.be​​​​​ The performance was recorded on April 24 @ Molière Theater, Ixelles/Elsene, Belgium Sound: Christophe Loncour Video : Simon Bésème Lights: Erik Janssens, Alex Dick Technical production: Mathieu Alexandre ----- The Solo Challenges: Muziekpublique challenges musicians to one of the greatest artistic challenges: playing solo with nothing to fall back on but yourself, your ideas and your instrument and / or voice. It is confronting and challenging: “Can I convince the audience all by myself”. It forces you to vary, to hold a tension arc. It is a way where your instrument or voice comes into its own. Moreover, you can make unexpected decisions, you do not have to take the other into account… And the silence suddenly becomes an important creative element.