In her wake, she brought Éve Ruggieri, or rather was it the other way around. In any case, the two women became friends. “She proposed to us to set up a festival in Charente and the current immediately passed between us,” slips Nicole Roy. Tuesday morning, the former mayor and the great voice of radio and audiovisual presented in Cognac in front of local elected officials and cultural actors, the outlines of this new event.
Artists of high caliber
With a budget of over 100,000 euros, supported by Grand Cognac and the Department but also by sponsors, the festival will bring together eight artists, singers, musicians, and writers from June 15th to 19th for a music festival where “voices meet other musical universes and also heritage.”
The performances will be spread across the area and various styles. “It goes from Bach to Bernstein (the composer of ‘West Side Story,’ Editor’s note),” announces Éve Ruggieri, artistic director of the festival who hopes to attract “a wider audience” than those who attend classical music concerts. With ticket prices at 25 euros, the equation is not obvious, but the artistic line-up is of high quality.
Marie-Laure Garnier will be the first to take the stage with Célia Oneto. The soprano, among other things, was named best lyrical artist at the Victoires de la musique classique in 2021 and the pianist, also awarded numerous times by the National Superior Conservatory of Music in Paris, will unite for the concert “Music at the heart of voices” at the Villebois-Lavalette castle at 7pm on Monday, June 15th.
> “It is a concert that will reconcile those who are not very fond of classical music and will please those who are,” said a statement.
An exceptional level to kick off this musical week which will continue until the closing concert on Friday, June 19th at 8 pm with another duo, Pierre Génisson and Bruno Fontaine. The former is “one of the most renowned representatives of the French wind school,” a talented clarinetist. The latter is a recognized pianist on the international scene. “It is a concert that will reconcile those who are not very fond of classical music and will please those who are,” argued Éve Ruggieri. “It is a way to unite all music styles.”
In between, another pianist, Anastasia Rizikov. The pianist, part Ukrainian and part Canadian, nicknamed “The red hair artist,” will captivate with her talent at the Bassac church from 8 pm. “She has an incredible technique and will transport us from Ravel to her own compositions.”
Éve Ruggieri in front of the audience
Countertenor Luan Goës will also demonstrate his expertise on Thursday, June 18th at the Notre-Dame de Lignières church with his baroque interpretations and castrati technique. “He hits his high notes,” emphasized the artistic director, “and his program demonstrates this performance with airs of fury and is also very poignant.”
Midweek, Éve Ruggieri will roll up her sleeves and take the stage at the Cognac theater to “tell the stories of the artists” she has met during her prolific career. To the accompaniment of music, obviously, with pianist David Bismuth by her side.
The artistic director will then slip into her most familiar role, that of a journalist, to converse with Alain Malraux, son (by adoption) of André, on Friday at the Bouteville castle. “I pray to God not to mention André,” she smiles at the idea of dialoguing with someone who knew the writer and politician fifty years ago.
“Charente sings and enchants,” from June 15th to 19th. Reservations will be available on the Helloasso.fr website.
Rachid Khimoune’s sculptures at the Villebois castle
During the festival and until October, the public will also be able to discover the monumental bronze works of sculptor Rachid Khimoune, who notably created “The Free Man” near Laprade, near Aubeterre. Eleven of the 21 statues from his series “The Children of the World” will be installed in the garden of the Villebois-Lavalette castle. After Shanghai or Paris, they are now partly in Charente. “It is a major work,” indicates Norbert Fradin, the owner. “The idea of bringing them together, it’s a real idea.” The primary school children of Saint-Romain and the actors of the “Rominois” have also put on a play on this theme.
