RENDEZ-VOUS, a new album by Camille Thomas and Julien Brocal
November 21, 2025
We’re thrilled to share the first two tracks from cellist Camille Thomas and pianist Julien Brocal’s new album RENDEZ-VOUS. Recorded at Tippet Rise in 2024, the project creatively reimagines iconic classical works, from Saint-Saëns and Satie to Bach and Gounod, by pairing them with new compositions by the artists that draw on different influences and eras.
“Immersed in the wild and majestic natural setting of Tippet Rise, we found total creative freedom — a rare and precious space that allowed imagination to unfold without limits. The silence, the infinite horizon, and the sheer presence of the land deeply inspired us, as did the absolute trust and support of the art center,” stated artists Camille Thomas and Julien Brocal. “This project goes beyond interpretation: it is a true co-creation, born of a deep musical friendship and shared trust. Each musical pairing is a journey where classical heritage becomes a living expression of the present, shaped by emotion, environment, and shared vision.”
Starting today, November 21, RENDEZ-VOUS tracks are being released in groupings, leading up to the album’s full release on April 17, 2026. Accompanying short music films, created by Martin Mirabel and Colin Morvan amid Tippet Rise’s landscapes and sculptures, add a new dimension to the music.
With the first pairing, titled “Grace,” Gounod’s Ave Maria, a celestial melody written to Bach’s famous first prelude in C Major, acts like a musical madeleine, instantly familiar to listeners. From this timeless work, Julien and Camille imagined an answer: in Reflection No. 1 (Paix - Shanti), Julien transforms the binary regularity of Bach’s prelude into a five-beat rhythm, creating a sensation of weightlessness.
The accompanying films were captured at the Beartooth Portal and Inverted Portal by Ensamble Studio, two works of art that offer an invitation into another world.
Additional tracks will be released monthly through April, and along with today’s debut recordings, will be available on all streaming platforms and the Tippet Rise YouTube page.
We are deeply grateful to Camille and Julien for bringing such an imaginative and meaningful project to life at Tippet Rise.
