The duo MINUIT is the hour of the crime — the moment when anything becomes possible, when forbidden alliances are dared and unexpected encounters take place.
A piano–voice duo, MINUIT was born from the meeting between Charlotte de Montcassin, an operatic singer who spent several years performing in Germany, and Vincent Paci, a jazz pianist and singer. MINUIT stands at the crossroads of these worlds. Together, they shape a unique universe where musical boundaries fade away.
Their repertoire revolves around great jazz standards, which they boldly reinterpret by weaving in echoes of the classical repertoire and touches of French mélodie. Through a subtle interplay of collage and reinterpretation, they build bridges between styles, creating a musical experience that is both refined and surprising.
Drawing on influences as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Erroll Garner, Peter Cincotti, Francis Poulenc, and Antonio Vivaldi, the duo MINUIT invites audiences on a timeless sonic journey, where elegance and freedom are in constant dialogue.
VINCENT PACI - PIANO
Vincent grew up in a family of music lovers, immersed from an early age in jazz and blues. At 11, he discovered the diatonic harmonica, encouraged by his guitarist father, with whom he quickly built a blues repertoire.
During his teenage years, his musical horizon expanded with jazz fusion, leading him to the electric bass. This exploration gradually drew him into the history of jazz, from bebop to hard bop, as well as into the vocal repertoire of the great crooners.
A multi-instrumentalist, Vincent now plays piano, bass, and harmonica. Initially used to deepen his understanding of harmony, the piano became a true passion at the age of 17 and his third instrument. Through it, he explores jazz standards, before joining various ensembles — from duo to quartet — with whom he performs regularly.
CHARLOTTE DE MONTCASSIN - VOICE
Charlotte began her musical journey in the children’s choir of the Paris Opera, where she was trained in the foundations of classical music and first discovered the stage. Curious and versatile, she later broadened her artistic world by exploring jazz, musical theatre, and drama, before choosing to return to formal studies in operatic singing and composition to further refine her technique and expressive range.
Her path led her to develop a career as an opera singer in Germany, performing on the stages of the Leipzig Opera and Theater Bielefeld, as well as internationally. She also explores electroacoustic composition, creating works for contemporary dance performances at Ufer Studios in Berlin and for Theater Lindenfels in Leipzig.
Today, Charlotte continues to pursue her personal projects, driven by a desire to explore hybrid and experimental forms where seemingly opposing styles come together.
