Hamadi Ferjani

Oboe

Bruckner. Symphony No. 9 (May, 2024)
Mahler. Symphony No. 5 (October, 2024)

Hamadi is a soloist with the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, a teacher at the Arts High School of the Rhine (HEAR), and a chef. His desire to elevate both his musical and culinary pursuits led him to combine academic music and high-level cooking a few years back. We discussed the ingredients that would be included in a dish inspired by Bruckner’s Ninth and the degree of immersion in Utopia.

What is it like to on tour with Utopia?

Being on tour with Utopia is an absorbing moment, demanding total engagement with the music at every stage, from rehearsals and recordings to the concerts. During this period, I cannot listen to any music other than the one we are working on.

How does performing at a concert differ from rehearsals?

The concert is always a unique and unpredictable moment. The combination of these two phenomena makes it even more stimulating for me.

What inspired you to combine your passion for haute cuisine with your professional life?

Since I was a child, I’ve had a fascination with the world of haute cuisine. At some point, it became a second facet of my professional life. It seemed obvious for me to combine my two passions and propose a new idea to give a new, unexplored dimension to the listening experience.

What kind of dish would you expect to be called “Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony” and why?

If I received an order for a dish called “Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony”, I would instinctively think of dessert. I imagine a cuboid entremet with several layers inside. At the base, a crispy hazelnut and chestnut honey biscuit with a hint of fleur de sel to underline the solidity of the symphony’s structure. In the center, a blackcurrant and wild strawberry insert flavored with Sichuan pepper symbolizing the majestic moments of the composition. The main layer could be a 65% dark chocolate and coffee mousse adorned with small pieces of candied orange peel. On the top, there would be a white mirror glaze and a frozen physalis to embrace the oxymoron of a burning cold sun.

What was the most moving experience of your musical life?

The most moving experience of my musical life was the premiere of my piece Poenicus XXII, which I composed as a dedication to my Tunisian origins. I couldn’t control my tears during the concert. It was the first time such a thing had happened.

Utopia in three words?

Cohesion, liberation, fire.