![](https://robbreport.com.au/application/assets/2022/12/Gautier-Capuçon-wearing-the-L.U.C-Flying-T-Twin-3-min-scaled.jpg)
Striking Excellence
Globally acclaimed cellist Gautier Capuçon explores his recent collaboration on Chopard’s standout Sound Of Eternity collection.
Related articles
The Sound of Eternity. It has, dare we suggest, a certain ring to it – a trio of minute-repeaters that further prove the deft touch and impressive craftsmanship in play at Chopard.
Boasting the L.U.C Strike One, L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire and L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon models – offered to mark the 25th anniversary of the L.U.C collection and some six years since the launch of the original Chopard Full Strike minute repeater – this trilogy presents chime and sound that is rich and clear and pronounced.
We spoke with award-winning classical musician Gautier Capuçon, who, along with his brother Ranaud, worked in collaboration with Chopard CEO Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and Romain Boulandet at the Applied Acoustics lab in Geneva in creating these very special sounds.
![](https://robbreport.com.au/application/assets/2022/12/The-Sound-of-Eternity_161987-5001_168604-9001_161949-5001-©Federal-Studio-min-scaled.jpg)
Is it true you were approached directly by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele about this project after he’d attended a concert of yours?
Yes, we met in a concert in Switzerland, in Gstaad… Every project in life, for me, comes from human relationships and a desire to share something. And I must say I was always, from the beginning, touched by this family working together and sharing this vision.
What were, ultimately, the deciding factors for you and your brother to become involved?
What was always important and what is still important to me today is emotions. Emotions that I carry with the music, emotion that you have when you look at a beautiful watch. What are those emotions? We all express them or feel them differently. But emotion is, I think, one of the most beautiful things. This is also why I’m a musician, to feel those emotions and to be able to share them with an audience.
There’s a sense of precision and perfection that frames your world and that of horology at this level.
For me, being a musician and having practised for hours and hours and hours since I was four and a half. And so when I this watch, I also admire so much of what’s behind — what’s in the backstage of it. I can see all this precision, all this perfection, the touch of the watch, the touch of the sapphire, all this extreme precision and magic. Even if there is extreme precision in the making [of a watch] thats actually different to me as a musician because perfection, in a way, doesn’t exist; when we play on stage it can just never be perfect… So in that way, it cannot be perfect, even though we are working every day for perfection.
It’s akin to a favourite child, though is there a preferred piece amongst the L.U.C Strike One, L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire and L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon?
That’s a very difficult question and it’s actually impossible to answer because I think they all say a different story — it’s like asking me to choose between an incredible piece by Brahms, Bach, Mozart and Schubert. It’s impossible to answer because they all have different emotions – it depends on the moment you look at it, the moment you wear it, the moment you touch it, what you experience in your life, which state of mind you are in. I think that’s the beauty of [the pieces] also — they all have a different story. And in that way, well, you probably need the three of them.
Agreed. Does having a musical sibling inspire and drive you – is there a sense of competitiveness at times or has there been?
For me it was always so incredible to have an older brother whom I admired as an artist, as a musician and, of course, it was a great source of inspiration and motivation for me. But I never felt in competition because I think we’re different — we play a different instrument and I think everybody has his own voice… I think it was a real privilege to be able to share this music together when you don’t need any words to communicate and just need the music. So this, I think, was a real privilege.
Classical music informs a life well lived (our opinion). But what do you say to those who perhaps stand on the outer – unsure of how to properly engage?
Well, I would only say one thing — dreams are the most important and you should believe in those dreams and to do everything possible realise them. I have so many dreams — some of them will probably never happen, but at least I’m doing everything I can to make them happen.
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Recommended for you
The Small Dress Watch Is Back
Drawer the Daytona—a small, slim dress watch is the discerning wristwear of the moment.
September 2, 2024
The 25 Greatest Independent Watchmakers in the World
From F. P. Journe, MB&F, Kari Voutilainen and Greubel Forsey to fresh names on the scene, these are the best small-scale, high-end watchmakers working today.