Justine Metral embodies a new generation of performers in which instrumental virtuosity is combined with a rare artistic rigor. Born in 1995 into a family of musicians, she distinguished herself from an early age by her extraordinary musicality. Initially trained at the Meylan music center, she went on to study at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Chambéry, then at the CRR de Grenoble, where she also took piano lessons. At just 13, she was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in the class of Philippe Muller, then Raphaël Pidoux. She brilliantly obtained her master’s degree in cello and chamber music in François Salque’s class.
Justine continued her training at the highest level, joining the Chapelle Musicale Reine Élisabeth de Belgique in 2016, in residence with the great cellist Gary Hoffman. At the same time, she has benefited from the teaching of prestigious musicians such as Menahem Pressler, Arto Noras, Renaud Capuçon and the Quatuor Ebène. Her musical curiosity and open-mindedness lead her to explore a vast repertoire, from Baroque to contemporary music, with equal intensity.
She soon founded the Metral Trio with her brothers Joseph (violin) and Victor (piano), with whom she forged a solid reputation on the international scene. Together, they won the Joseph Haydn International Competition in Vienna and made several critically acclaimed recordings, notably of Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Weinberg. Their musical understanding, founded on a deep family and artistic complicity, gives rise to an interpretation of rare emotional accuracy.
Justine Metral is a regular guest at major festivals and venues in France and Europe: Folles Journées de Nantes, Festival de Radio France in Montpellier, La Roque d’Anthéron, Philharmonie de Paris, Auditorium de Lyon, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Royal Albert Hall in London, among others. She also performs as a soloist or in chamber music with renowned artists, and takes part in contemporary creations, notably with the Ensemble intercontemporain.
An accomplished cellist, she plays on a contemporary luthier’s instrument, a Frank Ravatin cello, on loan from the Talents & Violoncelles association. This instrument, both powerful and subtle, reflects the depth of his playing: a warm timbre, generous projection, and sensitivity always at the service of the music.
Alongside her concert career, Justine is involved in educational and cultural projects. She regularly takes part in musical awareness campaigns in schools and hospitals, participates in masterclasses, and takes part in documentaries about the cello and musical transmission.
A complete artist, Justine Metral captivates with the sincerity of her interpretation, the precision of her phrasing and the richness of her sound palette. Between audacity and rigor, spontaneity and maturity, she has established herself as an essential figure in today’s French and European musical landscape.
