“Les Rencontres musicales de Vézelay is a meeting that is constantly seeking closeness between artists and the public”, indicates François Delagoutte, director of the Cité de la voix, organizer of the 22nd edition.
of this classical and world music festival which takes place from today until Sunday August 28 in Vézelien.
This notion of sharing will be found just as much in the various workshops offered by the artists as in the participatory cantata presented on the last day at the church of Saint-Père by the Masques ensemble. A highlight where the audience will be invited to sing the final chorale with the professionals.
An “almost cathartic” experience
The idea of transmission so dear to the organizers of the festival will also be carried
by the presence of two musicologists, Guy Gosselin and Nicolas Dufetel,
who will offer free earphones before each concert
for the general public. Either “a mixture of art history and report
music”, explains the latter. Without it being necessary to have notions
of musicology. For the time being, the two professionals have accepted for us to analyze the content of the four musical evenings of these 2022 Meetings.
at the basilica of Vézelay.
Esther by Handel
The Stagioni (directed by Paolo Zanzu) and the Young Choir of Paris (under the direction
by Richard Wilberforce) will open the festivities with Esther, the first English oratorio composed by Georg Friedrich Handel. Here in its more dramatic version of 1718 and not that of 1732. The story tells of Esther’s intervention with
of King Xerxes (5th century BC), which avoids the massacre of his people.
“Handel relied heavily on The Bible and on the translation ofEsther
by Racine (1689) to compose this oratorio, which carries within it the universal theme of commitment”, summarizes Guy Gosselin.
“Musically, there is something
both entertaining and uplifting in
this work. Above all, I remember the strength and pragmatism of the choirs.”
Guy Gosselin, musicologist
Receive our leisure newsletter by email and find ideas for outings and activities in your region.
NL {“path”:”mini-registration”,”id”:”YR_Loisirs”,”accessCode”:”14175551″,”allowGCS”:”true”,”bodyClass”:”ripo_generic”,”contextLevel”:”KEEP_ALL “,”filterMotsCles”:”5|10|12|53|54|55″,”gabarit”:”generic”,”hasEssentiel”:”true”,”idArticle”:”4175551″,”idArticlesList”:”4175551 “,”idDepartement”:”308″,”idZone”:”40625″,”motsCles”:”5|10|12|53|54|55″,”premium”:”true”,”pubs”:”banniere_haute |article”,”site”:”YR”,”sousDomain”:”www”,”tagsArticle”:”#rencontresmusicalesdevezelay2022″,”urlTitle”:”les-rencontres-musicales-de-vezelay-un-festival-de- classical-music-participative-and-in-quest-for-harmony”}
He also notes the fact that the harp becomes a concert instrument. “Handel creates here a veritable laboratory of instruments.”
A memorable musical experience, placed this Thursday, August 25, 2022 under
Paolo Zanzu’s wand. “This version ofEsther offers an orchestration
very rich and shows all the sensitivity of Handel”, observes the interested party.
The program of the 22nd Musical Meetings of Vézelay
A Mercy of peacearound Tchaikovsky and Bruckner
The Latvian Radio Choir (conducted by Sigvards Kjava) is back at the Vezelian festival, this time with a very spiritual program based on Orthodox liturgical music composed by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in the second half of the 19th century. “It’s the promise of an authentic, delicate and 100% a capella musical evening”, enthuses Guy Gosselin.
This Friday, August 26, this original formation will thus give voice to the Liturgy of Saint John Christostom of the Russian composer. “Tchaikovsky offers here something very pure and expressive, sublimated by the interpretation of a remarkable precision of this internationally recognized choir.” The insurance therefore, according to
the musicologist, with a beautiful “sound shimmer”…
In the first part, the Baltic group will present a selection of six Latin motets by Anton Bruckner. “A very nice programmatic choice.”
Stabat Mater by Poulenc
The Ensemble Aedes (directed by the Auxerrois Mathieu Romano) and the renowned orchestra Les Siècles combine their talents on Saturday August 27, associated with the soprano Marianne Croux, to present the Stabat Mater by Francis Poulenc (dated 1951). Nearly 90 musicians will share the stage.
“This work evokes sensuality in me and carries an almost cathartic dimension”, considers the expert. No doubt rightly so, since it will be preceded
several pieces by Janequin, Shchedrin, Gesualdo, Pärt, Ives and Messiaen,
which will draw – even in the staging of the show – a real sonic journey.
“We mix musical influences ranging from the 16th century to the present day, confirms Mathieu Romano, leader of the Ensemble Aedes. The idea was above all to create a story, like a kind of intercessional prayer to the Virgin Mary, which we here takes the place to study his psychology and his feelings.” The effect is guaranteed, according to Guy Gosselin.
“Poulenc’s music is vocal and very direct, it touches the soul and the heart of the spectator,
being varied. In this, having thought this show
this way is great!”
Small Solemn Mass by Rossini
This is the first time that this “chamber mass” by Gioachino Rossini (1864) will be presented at the Vézelien festival, to the great joy of musicologist Nicolas Dufetel. “It’s a very original work, a mass with piano that questions the border between sacred music and music in general.”
“This “sin of old age” as Rossini calls it (because composed thirty years later
his retirement, editor’s note) was dedicated to God.
He will also address himself to him, writing not without humor: “Good God, is it really sacred music that I have just made or is it sacred music?”
Nicolas Dufetel, musicologist
Composed for his French friend and patron, Count Pillet-Wil, and sung
in Latin, this mass is characterized “by the apotheosis of Italian-style choral singing
and by the very beautiful mixture of timbres between the piano and the harmonium”, points out the expert.
Charge, from now on, to the vocal ensemble Anima (directed by Guillaume Labois)
and to Coro Ghislieri (placed under the baton of Giulio Prandi) to give thanks, Saturday evening. In a formation relieved of a piano compared to its original form. But the sound pleasure should be intact.
Thirty musical events
So these are four beautiful musical evenings both varied and complementary that await music lovers and neophytes on the occasion of these 22nd Musical Meetings of Vézelay. With the common denominator of “carrying
a message of spirituality and peace”, notes Guy Gosselin – a challenge for this musical meeting in Icaun. His counterpart supports: “In Vézelay, voices of peace and without borders are raised.” A creed more than ever of topicality in our contemporary society…
François Delagoutte hopes in any case that the spectators will be numerous
to appreciate this artistic bias and to soak up the different musical currents presented here: “I want the public to be a real actor
Musical Encounters”, he repeats at will. With around thirty meetings (free or paid), there is no doubt that music lovers will find what they are looking for on site.
Arnaud Charrier
arnaud.charrier@centrefrance.com