The Tourcoing Lyric Workshop began its new season with a concert that highlighted three composers known for their minimalist styles: Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, and Julia Wolfe. The event was performed by the ensemble Miroirs étendus, led by conductor Fiona Monbet, and was part of a series of free concerts offered to the public. Minimalist music is characterized by repetitive patterns, sparse textures, and a focus on mood and atmosphere rather than complex development. The concert opened with Philip Glass's "Tirol" Piano Concerto, composed in 2000. The piece was performed by pianist Vanessa Wagner, who is recognized for her deep understanding of Glass's work. Inspired by traditional Tyrolean folk music, the concerto blends elements of popular music with Glass’s signature repetitive structures. It features a central, slow movement that is both lyrical and reflective, drawing themes from the film The Hours. The piece ends with a playful, almost jazzy finale, contrasting with the earlier contemplative mood. Next, the ensemble performed Julia Wolfe's "Fuel," composed in 2007. This work for string ensemble is physically demanding, requiring the musicians to maintain constant tension throughout the piece. Inspired by the bustling ports of New York and Hamburg, the music evokes the sounds of industrial activity on the docks. Conductor Fiona Monbet guided the ensemble through the challenging score, highlighting the piece’s intensity and rhythmic drive. The concert ended with Arvo Pärt's "Tabula Rasa," composed for solo violin, viola, string orchestra, and a prepared piano. Pärt's "tintinnabuli" style is known for its use of silence, resonance, and simple, bell-like tones. The piece includes a movement titled "Ludus," which features variations in which the violin, viola, and strings move in a canon-like fashion. The final movement, "Silentium," is a long, meditative passage that gradually fades into silence. The soloists were Hélène Maréchaux on violin and Léa Hennino on viola.