Paris (AFP)

Catherine Ringer, Alain Souchon, Hatik, or even Jeanne Added on stage: here is a small overview of the Festival des Festivals, an enticing set of August 27 proposed by Rock en Seine, prevented from being held in its usual format by the Covid-19.

The program is "rich and varied", congratulates AFP Emmanuel Hoog, president of Rock en Seine. There are also Benjamin Biolay, Christine and The Queens, Pomme, Camelia Jordana, Philippe Katerine, Dadju, Jane Birkin and her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sébastien Tellier, Izia, Oxmo Puccino or even Calogero.

Or twenty renowned French artists, who should have performed this summer in France if the pandemic had not led to the cancellation of most of the major events, and who were present for this exceptional event. at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine).

On the public side, 1,500 people are authorized (against 100,000 spectators last year), in compliance with health rules, on invitations issued soon by registration on the internet. Everything will be broadcast live on France 2, France.tv and France Inter, then rebroadcast on TV5 Monde.

The luxury cast makes this reduced version of Rock en Seine the first major festival of the summer, while the Paris region is traditionally the last.

"The conductor of the evening is not yet in stone but all the formulas - solo, duet, choral sequences - are considered, continues Mr. Hoog. Our proposal arrived on the agenda of these artists unexpectedly and their positive response, in record time, testifies to their desire to live ".

- "A manifest evening" -

The idea behind the name of the show, presented by Nagui and Leïla Kaddour, is also to greet all the festivals that should have been held this summer, such as Le Printemps de Bourges, We Love Green, the Francofolies, the Eurockéennes, the Old Plows, to name a few. This evocation will be made on stage, in the mouths of the artists or by footage-reports broadcast on a giant screen (and on television).

"This evening is the voice of festivals, underlines the importance of live music, performing arts. It is a manifest evening, a testimony of hope and will, those to continue to work in the possible forms within the framework health care that we know, ”explains Mr. Hoog.

Organizers and authorities are also working on the latest modalities around the key points of traffic on the site - large space in the open air - sitting / standing positions, and wearing a mask.

The Festival des Festivals, to set up, was notably supported by the Île-de-France Region, the Ministry of Culture, Adami, Sacem and the National Music Center (CNM).

And Rock en Seine does not forget the emerging scene either, with a digital showcase this time. Five young talents - Bandit Bandit, Lucie Antunes, Michelle Blades, Quinzequinze, Structures - will be filmed in particular at the end of August during sessions in new places of the National Domain of Saint-Cloud, broadcast on social networks.

© 2020 AFP