This native of Bretagne is one of the most prized young talents in France: At the age of 31, he is seen as a sign of times to come in European music. However, if Tiersen had come to Moscow more than six months ago, nobody outside of a small group of movie critics and perhaps some encyclopedically minded musicians would have paid much attention to his concert. But his latest album, "L'Absente," used as the soundtrack for the highly acclaimed movie "Amelie," has brought him widespread recognition throughout Europe and now in Russia.

Interestingly enough, Tiersen combines a romantic style that is definitely uncharacteristic for the new millennium, while demonstrating that he is in line with the trendiest computer know-how in music. During his concerts, the poly-instrumentalist Tiersen switches from one instrument to another, from a toy piano to a vibraphone to the classical violin. And now he is reportedly turning his eye to conducting.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "Amelie" was the opening movie of the XXIII Moscow International Film Festival this year, shortly after winning acclaim in Cannes. This unusual movie - called a modern-day fairy tale - received kudos from both critics and the public and upheld Jeunet's status as one of the most in-demand movie directors.

Tiersen's debut album "La valse des monstres" (The Waltz of Monsters) came out in 1995. Over the next few years, he went on to write soundtracks for Eric Zonca's "La vie revee des anges" (Life Dreamed by Angels) and Andre Techine's "Alice et Martin" (Alice and Martin).

Tiersen's latest album was recorded with the help of the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra and other famous musicians, as well as some of his close friends. Tiersen says an amateur, untrained vocal by a friend is at times more valuable to him than that of a sophisticated tenor. And that's exactly what is demonstrated when Natasha Regnier, star of Francois Ozon's scandalous movie "Les amants criminels" (Criminal Lovers), sings plainly but intimately on Tiersen's latest album. Regnier is also scheduled to appear in Tiersen's upcoming Moscow concert, which is being organized by the Dom Cultural Center with the help of the French Culture Center in Moscow.

Alexei Aigi and his 4'33" band will open up for the artist and his group, thereby making the concert more cinematically orientated. Aigi composed the score for the movie "Strana glukhykh" (Land of the Deaf) and has been called the Russian Michael Nyman (an English composer known for his work with movie director Peter Greenaway). Tiersen will perform tracks from his various albums with the nine other musicians that make up his small but quirky ensemble.

What: Concert.
When: Dec. 10, 7 p.m.
Where: Mossovet Theater.
15 Bolshaya Sadovaya Ul.
Metro: Mayakovskaya.
Tel: 953-7236.