Presentation
“Julien Chauvin can also rely on the qualities of La Sportelle, whose reputation is steadily growing — and for all the right reasons — among French choirs.”
Alain Cochard, September 2025
Since its creation in 2017, Ensemble la Sportelle has established itself as a unique voice in the sacred music landscape. A flexible vocal ensemble of 9 to 24 singers, it explores both a cappella repertoire and major oratorios, sometimes accompanied by organ or instrumental ensemble. Based in Rocamadour, in the Lot region, a millennium-old pilgrimage site, the ensemble draws inspiration from this exceptional setting and takes its name from “La Sportelle,” the almond-shaped medal given to pilgrims, symbolizing Rocamadour’s centuries-old spiritual radiance.
Inspired by Francis Poulenc’s encounter with Rocamadour and nourished by ten centuries of sacred music, Ensemble la Sportelle is dedicated to revealing this repertoire in a fresh and meaningful light. Under the artistic direction of Emmeran Rollin, and in collaboration with distinguished guest conductors such as Nigel Short, Owain Park, and Loïc Pierre, the singers combine the expressive qualities of soloists with the precision of a chamber choir. Each concert is conceived as a renewed experience: blending sound immersion, spatial design, lighting, and scenography, in search of sensitivity and beauty, to move audiences and foster genuine encounters.
The ensemble is deeply committed to accessibility and outreach. Through choral workshops, school programs, and summer courses, particularly in the Lot, it enables a wide audience of amateurs to explore singing, sacred repertoire, and the artistic experience alongside professional vocalists. These regional initiatives strengthen community ties and contribute to the cultural vitality of the territory.
In just a few years, Ensemble la Sportelle has performed in some of the most prestigious venues and festivals: Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Paris), Halle aux grains (Toulouse), Théâtre Impérial (Compiègne), Flâneries Musicales de Reims, Via Aeterna (Mont-Saint-Michel), Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, and the Festivals of Rocamadour, Musikfest Bremen, La Chaise-Dieu, Besançon, Sablé, and Sylvanès…
The ensemble also collaborates with contemporary composers, commissioning new works such as Ecce Pulchra Es by Thierry Escaich.
The 2025–2026 season confirms this dynamic momentum with major collaborations: Mozart’s Mass in C minor with Le Concert de la Loge under Julien Chauvin, presented at the Laon Festival, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and the Grands Interprètes season in Toulouse; Mozart’s Requiem with Débora Waldman’s orchestra at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris. The ensemble will also appear at the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Opéra d’Avignon, and the Froville and Fribourg Festivals, while continuing its major mission entrusted by the Fondation du patrimoine: performing concerts across every department of France to support the restoration of endangered religious heritage.
Beyond the stage, Ensemble la Sportelle has also enriched the discographic landscape with four albums released on the Label Rocamadour: Ave Maria, oui… mais lequel? (2022), Lux (2023), Le Grand Mystère (2024), and Hymne à la Vierge conducted by Owain Park (October 2025).
