Rocamadour Festival: August 15 – 26, 2022. Spreading over the Dordogne Valley territory, the Rocamadour Festival takes root thanks to two jewels of its urban heritage: the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur (semi-troglodyte in the middle of the Rocamadour cliff) and Saint Amadour Crypt ; the Festival energizes the local cultural offer by relying on its rich musical history, from the Middle Ages to Francis Poulenc who stayed there; after 4 years of work, from 2009, the great organ becomes a reality, proudly displaying in the Basilica, its shape that has become legendary, like the prow of a ship, which also reminds us that Rocamadour is linked to the history of sailors. In 2015, the 10th anniversary of the Festival affirms its open programming which favors above all sacred music, without omitting among other unforgettable experiences, its concerts under the stars in the Causse du Quercy… The 17th edition, from August 15 to 26, 2022, illustrates the generic notion of “Migrations”. The English choir Tenebrae, William Christie, Bertrand Chamayou, trumpet player Lucienne Renaudin-Vary and accordionist Félicien Brut, Les Surprises, Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations bring the diversity of their respective sensitivities to the Château de la Treyne, in the Basilica Saint-Sauveur, in the Alzou Valley, in Souillac… Edition 2022 event.
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Rocamadour Festival
www.rocamadourfestival.com
Mercerie Street
46500 Rocamadour
contact@rocamadourfestival.com
0652740106
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ROCAMADOUR, festival 2022. About the 17th edition, from August 15 to 26, 2022. Interview with its artistic director, organist Emmeran ROLLIN…
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CLASSICNEWS: What makes the Festival unique for you? What are the highlights of the 2022 edition in particular?
Emmeran ROLLIN : The Rocamadour Festival is first of all an exceptional place. The festival takes advantage of the geographical particularity of its territory and the place rich in history which makes it stand out. This year, it is also its programming that makes it unique, rich in classical music and sacred music, with a few evenings, a program that brings us to jazz. It is a very eclectic festival, which ranges from soloists to large ensembles, from music from the Middle Ages to contemporary, passing through the Baroque.
Among others Nigel Short and the Tenebrae choir, the great Toulouse pianist Bertrand Chamayou, the mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre, accompanied by Thomas Dunford and William Christie, the talented trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin Vary, Renaud Capuçon directing one of the best chamber orchestras in Europe, that of Lausanne, the company la Tempête and Le Concert Spirituel by Herve Niquet. A very nice overview of what is currently best in classical music.
CLASSICNEWS: How does the festival fit into the local geography? What are the places invested by the programming?
Emmeran ROLLIN : Rocamadour, by its location on the Compostela paths and its tourist appeal, is essentially a place at the crossroads of pilgrims and holidaymakers who make, through their detour in the city, a place of migration. The festival highlights this cosmopolitan heritage for twelve days. In addition to the concerts in the Saint Sauveur Basilica, exceptional heritage sites are occupied. The places chosen bring beauty and elevate the festival-goers who come and come out touched, amazed by the concerts.
We seek to establish a real link with the local actors of the Lot territory. The Rocamadour Festival moves in an approach to enhance the built and natural heritage of the region.
If you want to explore the places and have strong moments (even if all the evenings are exceptional moments!), there are the concerts in Basilica. With original acoustics, since it is semi-troglodyte in the middle of the Rocamadour cliff, it offers special emotions.
This year, the virtuoso pianist Bertrand Chamayou or the Ensemble la Sportelle with a spatialized and highlighted program, will take place in the building.
Another very important place of the festival is the Alzou Valley, at the foot of the city of Rocamadour. From a field, we arrive at a monumental setting through the installation of this outdoor stage, which gives way to an incredible view of the city. On both sides, there are the cliffs of the canyon, but also, behind the scene, we see all the verticality of the city. Above us, the starry sky of the black triangle of Quercy », an observation site recognized for its quality. The frame is enough, without the artifices of a staging. He is naturally carrier, with an unusual perspective.
The artists will meet you on this stage for four new concerts: Les Arts Florissants with William Christie for “The Recipes of Love”, the ensemble Les Surprises who will perform “The Passion according to Saint John”, a phenomenal work by Bach, of immense beauty and great humanity, Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations or even Renaud Capuçon for Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto” which does not leave anyone indifferent.
This year, we are also offering two concerts at the Abbey of Souillac, a former Benedictine abbey from the 13th century. On August 16, the Tenebrae English Choir, one of the best choirs in the world and of incredible vocal quality, will perform in this historic place. On August 25, the company La Tempête will perform Monteverdi’s “Vespers to the Mary” with incredible spatialization.
Another concept of the Rocamadour Festival is the concerts under the stars which will take place on August 24, 25 and 26 in the Causse du Quercy, at the dolmen of Magès and the castle of Haute-Serre. You have to be surprised by a hundred deckchairs, contemplating a starry sky and magnified by the singers of the Climax ensemble, who will perform a capella a varied program between the Renaissance and the Beatles years. One of the concerts under the stars will take place at Castle of Haute-Serre, in the middle of the vineyards in a bodega atmosphere. We are also fortunate to be able to offer a concert in the magnificent gardens of the Treyne Castlewith the talented trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin-Vary and Félicien Brut on the accordion.
CLASSICNEWS: How do you set up the schedule?
Emmeran ROLLIN : Programming is often the result of several years of work! This year with the artistic team, we have chosen to place it under the strong sign of Migrations. The themes of the different editions also give a deep meaning, to inhabit the soul of the festival. That of Migrations, is for us that of the link and the path that connects the public, the artists and the places through the concerts. We find in particular the Tenebrae choir which will give the program “Path of Miracles” (Path of Miracle in English), the next day Bertrand Chamayou with “Chemin de Pèlerinage” or the “Movement towards Rome” of the Concert Spirituel, directed by Hervé Niquet. This idea of migration is part of the news of our time in the theme of movement but also of going towards the other in a more fraternal sense. What we are looking for above all is that the concerts amaze the public, the universality of the emotion that the music offers in the first place.
CLASSICNEWS: Have you noticed a change in behavior among the public since the pandemic? Have you yourself changed an element of the festival since covid?
Emmeran ROLLIN : This period will have marked us as well as the public. We have noticed that spectators are taking their precautions and bookings are made later in the year. After a peak when the program is released, places are mostly taken at the last moment, two weeks before the festival. What touches us above all is the loyalty of certain festival-goers over the twelve days and those who are still there on August 15! Overall, I think there is a need for the public to rediscover these moments of musical beauty, in all simplicity.
Today, we find a normality in the reservations, even which are even higher than “before” pandemic.
This period will have taught us to better anticipate the protocols and to improve the procedures for entering and leaving the public. This was a plus for security, measures that we keep for the next editions. One might think that the proliferation of outdoor concerts is due to health reasons, but above all it corresponds to a request from the public to escape and (re)discover the territory.
To conclude, there is no major change, but a desire to schedule events over time, to multiply the concerts during the festival and out of season. Also focus on what is most essential: experiencing the beauty that emanates from the artists’ interpretation, which blends with the spirituality of the music and the places.
Interviewed in August 2022
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Rocamadour Festival
www.rocamadourfestival.com
Mercerie Street
46500 Rocamadour
contact@rocamadourfestival.com
06 52 74 01 06