Biography

Mehdi Trabelsi, a Franco-Tunisian pianist, composes music for his instrument and for other ensembles, blending Western classical tradition with Arabic culture.

Self-taught by nature, he decided to follow his musical intuition, quickly moving away from academic paths. From his earliest compositions, he created connections between diverse artistic worlds (theater, song, painting), while also developing a unique musical language with diverse styles and influences.

The poetry and sincerity of his touch, and the emotional power of his playing, always tempered by modesty and a deep sense of form, inspired Tunisian playwright and actress Leila Toubel. From this pivotal encounter emerged Hourya, a musical-theatrical performance created in Tunis (2018). Their collaboration continued with the monodrama Yakouta (2021) and the concert Le serment des chemins (2023).

Open to a boundless musical world, Mehdi Trabelsi created Le serment des chemins in 2023, a cycle of melodies where Abir Derbel illuminates the Tunisian dialect poems by Leila Toubel with her voice. After three years of intense writing, this work confirms a musical language deeply rooted between France and Tunisia.

After 2023, Mehdi Trabelsi composed State of Siege – حالة حصار (2023), a cycle of songs set to poems by Mahmoud Darwish, as an artistic response to the injustices and horrors endured by the Palestinian people. He then continued with Abir Derbel on vocals and Leila Toubel writing the lyrics through Songs for Abir (since 2023), a collection of standalone songs—captured moments, stripped-down and intense.

In parallel, after a period of silence at the piano, he returned to it with Moments musicaux (since 2024), in a more intuitive approach: he plays, records, layers, and assembles takes, letting the piece build itself. Between 2024 and 2025, he also composed the original music for Leila Toubel’s theatre production Ad Vitam – كيما اليوم, featuring the voice of Abir Derbel.

A composition that brings music as close as possible to the soul.