Nathalie Mengual (guitarist) and François Ragot (cellist) play with pleasure the duo's repertoire that combines the pearly and energetic sound of the guitar and the warm and vibrant sound of the cello.

The timbres (timbres) of these stringed instruments mix and oppose each other. Strings pinched and rubbed touch our souls to the depths of their being (être).

The evocations of rhythms and atmospheres of sunny countries alternate with

more expressive moments that give free way to sensitivity and sensuality of

cello and guitar. In 2021, they recorded the Arpeggione sonata

from Schubert to 5-string piccolo cello and guitar. The duo released a first

album 'Arpeggiata' and has just released a second one 'Piccola Romanza'. Guitar and

cello in hand, the "Arpegi Duo" invites you to share sensations and

emotions. 

François RAGOT, cello and artistic director of "Mare Nostrum Musicae"

          Trained at the Conservatory of Perpignan, the Conservatory of Reuil Malmaison, and finally at the Royal College of Music in London, François Ragot obtained a "Post Graduate Diploma" and the "Yvor James Prize." Back in Catalonia, he was Solo Cellist of the Empordà Orchestra until 2001. He promoted the "Tierra Baja" festival in Aragón and was the artistic director of the AmuVall Festival for 4 years. François Ragot proposes more than 30 concerts each year under the label MARE NOSTRUM MUSICAE. 
           He conducts the Regional Symphony Orchestra of Canet-en-Roussillon since 2012. He is currently the solo cellist of the GIOrchestra of Girona, regularly invited by the Montpellier Orchestra and abroad.

          François Ragot is a cello professor at the Municipal Schools of Music of St Cyprien and Ceret.

          François Ragot plays the first cello of Lucien André Ragot (father), according to a Serafino model, made in Mirecourt in 1929; and a Cello piccolo of Lucien André Ragot (son), of a Ford model, created in 2000 in Perpignan. 

Nathalie MENGUAL, guitar and arrangement

            Nathalie Mengual began studying classical guitar at the Music School of Argeles sur Mer with M. Rubio before being admitted to the Conservatory of Music in Perpignan. She continued her studies at the Montpellier Conservatory, where she obtained her Diploma as a guitar teacher and in Chamber Music.
           She deepened her training with the baroque guitar in J. Girones' class at the Conservatory of Perpignan and studied the theorbo at the Baroque Arts Center in Toulouse.
           In 2018, she obtained the State Diploma and an Instrumental Pedagogy license in from the Applied Arts Institute in Toulouse and currently teaches classical guitar at the Municipal School of Music in St Cyprien and the Alberes.
          She belongs to the Duo Arpegi, the tango group Tinta Negra, and the Choro-Arte group.

          Nathalie Mengual plays a 'Grand Concert' guitar by Olivier Pozzo, from 2012.

           "MARE NOSTRUM MUSICAE" is a professional musicians collective organized around a group of about twenty members. Francois Ragot is the founder and the artistic director since its creation in 1995 in Cadaques.

           Under the name MARE NOSTRUM MUSICAE, Francois Ragot proposes a wide variety of classical or atypical formations, from duos to chamber orchestras with choirs, including quintets and the very famous "Tutti bassi" octet.

           These formations offer a broad and eclectic repertoire, collaborating with musicians, singers, and famous choirs. 

          "MARE NOSTRUM MUSICAE," for its composition and activity, constitutes a genuine musical link between Northern Catalonia and Southern Catalonia. "Mare Nostrum Musicae" offers a program of 40 annual concerts both in Catalonia and the rest of France and Spain while undertaking various tours that have already taken them to Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, England, Scotland, as well as to Egypt, China, Argentina, and Japan.

“Hispanic Colors” program

Manuel DE FALLA - Spanish Dance n.1 of the short life opera 

Enrique GRANADOS - Andaluza, Oriental and Intermezzo

Isaac Albeniz - Asturias and Cordoba

Gaspar CASSADO - Requiebros 

PIXINGUINHA - Rosa

Astor PIAZZOLLA - Adios nonino

Zequinha de ABREU - Tico tico

"Romantic" program

Franz Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata D821 


P.Y Tchaïkovski - Sentimental waltz

Niccolo Paganini - Cantabile

Jules Massenet - Thaïs Meditation

Manuel Maria Ponce - 3rd movement Romantic Sonata

"MIX" program

 
Franz Schubert - 1st movement Arpeggione Sonata D821 

 
P.Y Tchaïkovski - Sentimental waltz

Manuel Maria Ponce - 3rd movement Romantic Sonata 

Jules Massenet - Thaïs Meditation


Enrique GRANADOS - Andaluza, Oriental and Intermezzo

Francisco TARREGA - Alhambra memories
 
Manuel DE FALLA - Spanish Dance n.1 of the Short life opera  

Tango & Choro

Carlos GARDEL - Volver

Astor PIAZZOLLA - tango history, Oblivion

Heitor VILLA-LOBOS - Bachiana n.5 Aria

Jacob do BANDOLIM - Santa Morena

PIXINGUINHA - Carinhoso, Proezas de Solon et Rosa

Zequinha de ABREU - Tico tico

"Classical" music : 

• Niccolo Paganini : Cantabile 
• Franz Schubert : Arpegionne Sonata y lieds
• Friedrich Burmüller : 3 Nocturns
• Cesar Cui : Orientale
• Anton Dvorak : Humorescas
• Jules Massenet : Thaïs Meditation
• Manuel Maria Ponce : 3rd movement Romantic Sonata 
• Piotr Tchaikovski : Sentimental Waltz and Andante cantabile
• Camille Saint Saëns - the swan 
• Gabriel Fauré : Pavane op.50, Après un rêve
• Charles Gounod : Ave Maria
• Jean Sibelius : Study n°2 op.76
• Kaufmann : Suite Yiddish
• Benjamin Britten (arr. J.C Rosaz) : Lament

Spanish Music :

• Manuel de Falla: 5 Popular spanish songs, spanish dance n.1 of the Short life opera
• Enrique Granados: Andaluza, Oriental, Intermezzo 
• Francisco Tarrega : Alhambra memories
• Gaspar Cassado : Requiebros
• Isaac Albeniz: Cordoba
• Pablo de Sarasate : Romanza Andaluza
• Ricardo Lamote de Grignon : Elegia
• Pau Casals : El cant del ocells

South America Music :

• Heitor Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No.5 Aria
• Astor Piazzolla : Oblivion, Chiquilin de Bachin, Tango History, Balada para un loco, libertango, Adios nonino
• Carlos Gardel : Volver, Soledad, El dia que me quieras
• Celso Machado : Piezas Populares Brasilenas 
• Ernesto Nazareth : Carioca, Garoto, Apanhei-te Cavaquinho, Confidencias
• Francisca Gonzagua : Lua Branca
• Ariel Ramirez : Alfonsina y el mar
• Pixinguinha : Rosa, Carinhoso, Proezas de Solon
• Jacob do Bandolim : Santa Morena
• Zequinha Abreu : Tico-tico