In this musical show for young audiences, ages 5 and up, which combines singing, music, and live drawing to create a dreamlike and whimsical world, a young boy refuses to do his homework and prefers to give free rein to his imagination. His world is then populated by unusual characters: a flea in a car, a rebellious Puss in Boots, musical angels, and even the great Lustucru. Each encounter fuels a story rich in emotion, oscillating between humor and poetry.

Emma Bertin's drawings, projected in real time, create an evolving setting where colors and shapes bring the hero's adventures to life. The scenography, inspired by Japanese kakemonos, structures the space by integrating masks and screens to represent the imaginary world.

But beyond entertainment, the show questions freedom, imagination, and resistance to norms. It celebrates childlike creativity and the power of dreams, affirming the importance of art in the face of the constraints of reality.

La Courte Paille

Opéra-Théâtre Clermont-Ferrand

Forget everything you know about the accordion—Théo Ould is here to blow your mind. Recognized by Le Monde for his “personality that expresses itself naturally in fantasy, in the fresh and enchanting sense of the term,” this astounding French accordionist makes his Princeton University Concerts debut with a bold, tango-inspired program that proves his instrument’s rightful place in the classical world. At just 24, Ould became the first accordionist nominated as a Newly Discovered Talent at the Victoires de la Musique Classique awards, and he is redefining what the accordion can do—blending Baroque elegance, Romantic passion, and cutting-edge contemporary works (some featuring electronics) written just for him, including by Princeton University graduate student composers. With an instrument he calls “halfway between a typewriter and an extraterrestrial device,” Ould delivers a performance that’s anything but ordinary — don’t miss it.

EPSG:4326

Théo Ould, Accordion

Richardson Auditorium

Breathe in sound and silence through guided meditation as you listen to music more viscerally than ever, meditating to the playing of accordionist Théo Ould, guided by Matthew Weiner, Associate Dean in the Princeton University Office of Religious Life. This is a FREE, unticketed opportunity to indulge in attentive, focused, and mindful listening. No prior experience with meditation necessary. For more information about the Live Music Meditation experience, check out this New York Times feature and Performance Today segment.

Live Music Meditation: Théo Ould, Accordion

Making his debut, this astounding French accordionist has been described by Le Monde as having “a masterly technique and an inexhaustible wealth of phrasing.” Offering a tango-inspired program, Ould evinces his instrument’s rightful place in the classical repertory.

Théo Ould, accordion Union College

Union College

When French accordionist Théo Ould first picked up his instrument at age six, he thought it “an intriguing blend of a computer keyboard and a spaceship, a machine to explore in every sense of the word.” That spirit of wonder and discovery has defined his career. Ould has revitalized the accordion’s place on the concert stage: performing iconic piano works in a different light, commissioning bold new pieces, and crafting programs that transport audiences across continents and centuries.

Théo Ould, accordion

Longy School of Music of Bard College

French accordionist Théo Ould has revitalized the accordion’s place on the concert stage: performing iconic piano works in a different light, commissioning bold new pieces, and crafting programs that transport audiences across continents and centuries.

Théo Ould

Events

Past events

Jan 30, 2026

La Courte Paille · Clermont Auvergne Opéra

Dec 10, 2025

Théo Ould, Accordion · Princeton University Concerts

Future and recently performed repertoire

Accordion in Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4 by Villa-Lobos

Princeton University Concerts

Accordion in Libertango by Piazzolla

Princeton University Concerts

Accordion in Partita No. 6 in E minor by Bach

Princeton University Concerts

Accordion in Gavotte et six doubles by Rameau

Princeton University Concerts

Accordion in Ave Maria by Piazzolla

Princeton University Concerts

Accordion in Mikrokosmos by Bartók

Princeton University Concerts

Accordion in Pedro y Pedro by Piazzolla

Princeton University Concerts

Accordion in Cantos Populares by Guastavino

Princeton University Concerts

About

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