Lyon (AFP)

The Lyon Nuits de Fourvière festival, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, presented its 2021 program on Monday, a "crazy bet" whose success, the organizers acknowledged, remains conditioned "to the evolution of the health situation".

A range of 35 shows - including nine creations - is currently planned by this multidisciplinary festival between June 1 and July 31.

If their number is substantially the same as in previous years, that of representations (66) is less than half, specify the organizers.

As usual, the performances will take place, for the most important, in the ancient theaters of Fourvière but also in various places of the metropolis.

It will be a "transitional festival, adapted to the famous sanitary rules", underlined its president Jérôme Bub, in his introduction posted on the Nuits de Fourvière website.

Thus, "in accordance with the presidential announcements", access to Roman theaters will be, from June 9, conditional on the compulsory presentation of a health pass.

For shows prior to this date, the organizers are still awaiting clarification from the government.

In view of the health context, the Nuits de Fourvière have developed an "unprecedented bond" with another major Lyon cultural event, the Dance Biennale, initially scheduled for September and which will finally take place in June.

Symbolically, the joint opening of the two events will be a creation around water by singer Camille, directed by South African choreographer Robyn Orlin.

A rapprochement also symbolized by the performance of the master of electro Rone with (La) Horde, a collective of the Ballet national de Marseille.

The great popular parade through the streets of the city that traditionally marks the kickoff of the Biennale will finally be held at the Roman Theater, the festival's center of gravity.

The "Nuits" program gives pride of place to French song, with in particular Alain Souchon, Jane Birkin and Louis Chedid, Philippe Katerine, Stephan Eicher, Catherine Ringer, Suzane ... The Lyonnais Benjamin Biolay, Woodkid and Pomme will also be in the part.

There will also be jazz with the unclassifiable Albert Marcoeur and star Melody Gardot, theater, circus, classical music and world music, with the Al-Kindî Ensemble (learned Arabic music) and three virtuosos from African plucked string instruments, Ballaké Sissoko, Driss el Maloumi and Rajery.

© 2021 AFP