La Roque d’Anthéron Festival

Melodic Splendor: Discovering the Charms of La Roque d’Anthéron Festival

Top Classical, July 2023
Nestled in the charming commune of La Roque, the picturesque La Roque d’Anthéron Festival emerges as a mesmerizing celebration of music, culture, and art. It all started back in 1971 when Paul Onoratini, the mayor of La Roque at the time, teamed up with his son, Bernard, an interior architect with an ardent passion for the piano, to launch the “Musique à Silvacane” project. This initial venture featured a series of seven concerts held at Silvacane Abbey each year—a promising beginning to what would become a much grander musical affair.

Intriguingly, the festival’s roots intertwine with the story of a fateful meeting between Paul Onoratini and René Martin, who dreamt of creating a piano festival in the Aix region. A stroke of fate brought them together, and when Paul Onoratini discovered the magnificent Parc de Florans, he was filled with enthusiasm for the vision. Thus, the first La Roque d’Anthéron Festival was born in 1981, on a single stage in the Parc du Château de Florans.

The debut festival boasted twelve concerts, attracting a remarkable 9000 spectators, eager to witness performances by renowned artists like Youri Egorov, Vlado Perlemuter, Martha Argerich, and Krystian Zimermann. The event’s early success set the stage for future greatness.

Since that milestone event, the festival has flourished, inviting over 700 pianists, featuring a staggering 2509 concerts, and recording an impressive two million tickets sold. René Martin, the artistic mastermind behind the festival, has also contributed his magic touch to numerous other musical endeavors, including the Festival de la Grange de Meslay, the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, and the Moments Musicaux de l’Hermitage-Barrière in La Baule. And let’s not forget his role in creating La Folle Journée in Nantes, Tokyo, Bilbao, Rio, and Warsaw—truly a force to be reckoned with in the music world.

What makes La Roque d’Anthéron Festival stand out is the harmonious collaboration between the Artistic Direction and the Presidency, fostering an environment of simplicity and quality. Both artists and audiences are welcomed with genuine warmth, and the dedication of numerous devoted volunteers is the lifeblood of the festival.

Now, let’s dive into the magic of the upcoming 43rd edition, filled with breathtaking performances and delightful surprises. This year’s highlights include the “Intégrale des concertos pour piano de Beethoven,” presented across four evenings at various locations. Featuring the likes of Bertrand Chamayou, Anne Queffélec, and François-Frédéric Guy, this Beethoven feast is not to be missed.

Venturing into the world of Chopin, the festival presents a captivating evening titled “Chopin, ou Le Temps retrouvé,” with Jean-Marc Luisada at the Théâtre des Terrasses in Gordes. Another promising talent, Bruce Liu, winner of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, will grace the stage with Rossini and Chopin masterpieces.

The festival also pays tribute to the great Rachmaninov, featuring pianists like Anna Geniushene and Nikolaï Lugansky. And let’s not forget the exciting carte blanche given to Alexandre Kantorow, performing works by Beethoven and Schubert alongside talented artists like Liya Petrova and Aurélien Pascal.

For those eager for fresh musical experiences, the festival will feature diverse genres, including Baroque, jazz, and even electronic music, adding a thrilling new dimension to the event.

As the festival pays homage to remarkable composers like Henri Dutilleux, Julian Anderson, and Philippe Schoeller, it invites audiences to immerse themselves in a world of imagination, color, and originality.

With Alexandre Tharaud’s captivating performance and a vibrant program featuring Rameau, Grieg, and Beethoven, the La Roque d’Anthéron Festival promises an enchanting and unforgettable journey into the realm of music and art. Embrace the magic, explore the melodies, and revel in the musical wonders that await at La Roque d’Anthéron.