Maceration Musicale

Let yourself be carried away to the oldest and most headstrong wine region of France on a journey that delights both palate and ear. Thomas Brand is a film and theatre maker, but also a wine importer — because wine is a story in a glass.

On this special evening, two passions come together: wine and music. During this musical wine tasting, Thomas takes you to the Gaillac region, a tiny wine area in the south of France, home to distinctive grape varieties such as Loin de l’Oeil, Mauzac, and Braucol. Officially one of the oldest wine regions in France, it was long overshadowed by the mass production of Bordeaux. Yet it is precisely here that a new generation of unconventional winemakers is emerging: enfant terribles who radically overturn tradition and produce with a deep respect for flavour and nature.

As Thomas guides the audience through a selection of wines, richly illustrated with stories and anecdotes, Splendor musicians translate these flavours and narratives into music. They let the wine resonate, give it a voice. Over the course of the evening, a sensory journey unfolds — of scent, taste, and sound — transporting you to a landscape where the Tarn carves deep gorges through the rock and the sun burns bright over the hills.
During this evening, you will taste six wines.

Enjoyed the wines? You can order them afterwards via the website of Comme Tu Veux, Thomas’s label, through which he imports and sells these distinctive wines — and takes enthusiasts on wine and art journeys to the heart of the region.

Anat Spiegel (voice),
Thomas Myrmel (trombone),
Michael Moore (clarinet),
Ties Mellema (saxophone),
Jonathan Nagel (bass),
Felix Schlarmann (drums)

Bios
Thomas Brand is a film and theatre maker who enjoys creating immersive projects — art you can step into. He is also a wine importer. This is no coincidence: wine is a story in a glass.
It speaks of soil, wind, and rain; of sun and stone; of culture and the people who make it. Of the blood and sweat of the winemaker, of traditions — and the breaking of them. Wine is the art of balancing elements. And when we drink, we briefly become part of that balance, carried along on a journey.
Art in a glass.

Anat Spiegel (Voice) is vocalist and composer whose work stems from a vocal perspective and focuses on the endless expressions of the human voice. In the juxtaposition of jazz, theater and contemporary classical music, Spiegel's compositions consider the cultural gravity of songs and the connection between written language and it’s sounding expression.
Thomas Myrmel (Trombone) is a composer, performer and multifaceted artist, weaving the notions of social change, craftsmanship and creative expression into every aspect of his practice.
Ties Mellema (Saxophone) Although Ties Mellema is undisputedly a virtuoso on the saxophone, he sees himself first and foremost as a musician. His craft is expressed in his continuous exploration of the outer limits of music.
Michael Moore (Clarinet) is an American jazz musician who has lived in the Netherlands since 1982, having played in a variety of musical contexts, especially those in support of theatre and dance groups as well as Misha Mengelberg's Instant Composers Pool & Georg Gräwe's Grubenklang Orchester.
Jonathan Nagel (Contrabass) is driven by a craving to convey emotions and tell stories. Continuously seeking to abandon the borders between genres, striving to merely rely on whatever means it takes to create a certain image or feeling. Alongside Contrabass, Nagel's artistic practice includes music, poetry, improvisation, physical theater, performance art and dance.
Felix Schlarmann (drums) can be found in a wide range of musical settings, performing with renown groups in the Dutch and European scene. His most recent project is Tree House, a 7-piece ensemble that has officially been premiered during the 2023 edition of the German Jazzahead.