FREDERIC DESSUS – Violin
Frédéric Dessus first studied music with Denise Tassoul-Derome at the Pau Conservatoire, before joining Solange Dessanne’s class at the Paris École Normale de Musique, then Jean-Jacques Kantorow’s class at the Rotterdam Conservatory and that of the Quatuor Ysaÿe at the Paris Conservatoire. He now teaches at the Conservatoire des Portes de l’Essonne. Frédéric Dessus is second violin with Illico.

BERTRAND CAUSSE – Viola
The very eclectic artist Bertrand Causse trained as a pianist, viola player and conductor. He also has a keen interest in drama and contemporary music. He was a soloist (viola) for several years with the Fa Ensemble, and also conductor of the Emmanuel Chabrier Youth Orchestra (Île-de-France) and the choir Musicolor, which he founded. In 2000 he was apponted musical director of the CNR-Université de Reims Inex’Tempo, which he directed until 2005. In 2000 he formed the Illico Ensemble - the Quatuor Illico plus singer-songwriter Cyril Giroux - thus moving towards a musical and theatrical stage form. He is also noted, both in France and abroad, as an excellent whistler. His talents in that field have been broadcast on France Musique (‘Les contes du jour et de la nuit’, ‘Un mardi idéal’). Bertrand Causse plays the viola with Illico.

After receiving premiers prix for cello and chamber music, Anne Biragnet went on to work with Étienne Cardoze, Xavier Gagnepain and Marc Coppey, before joining the group Illico, with which she has toured widely in France and abroad, appearing at the Avignon Festival, La Cigale and the Comédie des Champs-Elysées (both in Paris), to mention just a few important venues. With Illico she met Muriel Mayette (actor and administrator of the Comédie Française), who helped the ensemble to achieve a theatrical dimension in its performances. Anne Biragnet’s stage presence and acting abilities have been highly praised by the critics. With Frédéric Dessus she works regularly on various events for the Comédie Française; she has also recorded music for stage plays and choreographic works, as well as for various singers, including Yann Tiersen and Adamo. Anne Biragnet is the Illico’s cellist.

Born in 1975, Stanislas Kuchinski first studied music in Douai, where he was awarded first prizes for piano, harmony and counterpoint. He then entered Jean-Marc Rollez’s class (double bass) at the Paris Conservatoire and was unanimously awarded a premier prix in 1995. In 1997 he qualified as a teacher and embarked on a teaching career, working at several conservatoires. He now has a permanent post at the Paris Conservatoire. While teaching he also played with the Orchestra of the Paris Opéra, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, and with various chamber ensembles. In 2002 Stanislas Kuchinski joined the Orchestre de Paris as double-bass player.