The Usual Illusion (2024)

The Usual Illusion is a musical illustration of a Fata Morgana mirage, a natural atmospheric phenomenon that distorts the horizon beyond recognition; boats seem to float in midair, strange islands emerge out of nowhere, cargo ships and mountains suddenly appear upside-down. Most common in polar regions and deserts, the Fata Morgana has inspired tales of sirens, ghost ships and lost continents for centuries. Composed for Gautier Capuçon, this work for solo cello embodies the mystical, fantastical and “upside-down” properties of this haunting illusion.