Marseille (AFP)
Rare major cultural event to be maintained in France, the international piano festival of La Roque d'Anthéron (Bouches-du-Rhône) will take place from August 1, we learned on Wednesday from its director René Martin.
For its 40th edition, the festival which was supposed to start on July 20 "will be held from August 1 to 21," René Martin told AFP, confirming information from France Musique radio.
To meet the health security measures required during the deconfinement period, only 600 places will be offered to the public against 2,000 usually.
"There will be three concerts a day, from 10:00 am in the morning until 9:00 pm in the evening in three places" of the park of the castle of Florans, in the heart of the village of La Roque d'Anthéron, said Mr. Martin.
The concerts will take place as usual in the open air, added Mr. Martin, adding that at "no time" the public will meet.
The programming also had to be changed. "I bet on the French piano school" and the geographic proximity of the artists who "can come by car or train".
A hundred musicians are expected, including 80 pianists. "90 percent of them are French," said the festival director. However, no orchestra could be invited. "The constraints were too heavy," he said.
As usual, master classes will be organized for young musicians but they will not be open to the public.
The Roque d'Anthéron festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year but "in this painful period" of the coronavirus pandemic, its organizers "did not have the spirit to party, we will celebrate them next year", says René Martin.
He opted, this year, "for something fraternal, moving". With a program around Bach, Beethoven and Mozart. "We will welcome 1,200 people a day, this will breathe new life into the local economy," hopes Martin.
Reservations will be open from June 20.
© 2020 AFP