Press Release - Versailles - Château de Versailles

16
fêtes à versailles: versailles festival
8 June-13 July
INTERNATIONAL MUSIc FESTIVAL
THE TrIuMPH of HANDEL
After the success of Venise Vivaldi Versailles, the Palace of
Versailles proposes a unique festival of baroque and classical
music with a series of concerts and performances whose
principal guest in 2012 is Handel. A brilliant composer of
operas, oratorios with thrilling choral pieces and grandiose
compositions for state occasions, Handel left his mark on his
century and his successors. He remains to this day the most
accomplished of baroque composers. Versailles hosts his great
works and their most outstanding performers: five operas
in concert version, four oratorios, three virtuoso gala
concerts, and the essential Music for the Royal Fireworks in
a fireworks display directed by Groupe F. The great singers
and musicians of Handel’s music will be performing:
Marc Minkowski, Jordi Savall, Jean-Christophe Spinozi,
Cecilia Bartoli, Christophe Rousset, Max Emanuel
Cencic and Alan Curtis.
The oratorios will be sung by English ensembles: Paul
McCreesh, Robert King, Harry Christophers, Dunedin
Consort, Academy of Ancient Music. Sir John Eliot
Gardiner and Alexandre Tharaud are also on the
programme.
Daniel Barenboim will conclude the festival with
Beethoven’s 9 th Symphony in the open air, combining
the West Eastern Divan Orchestra and the Choeur de
l’Orchestre de Paris.
royal fireworks display:
Handel on the grand canal
22, 28 29 June, 5 and 6 July at 10: 00 pm
Fireworks display by Groupe F
In the unique setting of the Palace of Versailles, Groupe
F restages the two open-air orchestral masterpieces of
Handel: Water Music performed in 1717 on the Thames
and Music for the Royal Fireworks composed in 1749.
the royal serenade in the Hall of Mirrors
Every Saturday evening from 16 June to 8 September 2012
inclusive.
At 6: 45 and 7: 45 pm.
Just before the Fountains Night Show, accompany
the musical stroll from the King’s apartments
to the Hall of Mirrors. To the sound of a
serenade, the musicians and dancers of L’Eclat
des Muses - Cie Christine Bayle – will dance the
rounds of a traditional French ball as they did in
the 17 th century court.
The grand costumed & masked ball
30 juin
After the success of the Venice Carnival of July 2011,
the Orangerie of Versailles will be hosting a grand
costumed & masked ball on 30 June from midnight to
dawn. Guests wearing the finest costumes in Europe
will dance to the frenzied music of today and enjoy
the choreographies of Blanca Li who will be the night’s
hostess in Versailles. 1,500 costumed and masked
dancers are guaranteed an unforgettable experience
that will end at dawn in the Ballroom Grove, the finest
spot in the Royal Garden.
Beethoven’s 9th symphony
13 July, Terraces of the Palace of Versailles, Choeur de l’Orchestre de
Paris - West Eastern Divan Orchestra
Conductor, Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim, music director of the Berlin Opera, will
conduct Beethoven’s greatest symphony in the exceptional
setting of the terraces of the Palace of Versailles. Underneath
the Hall of Mirrors at sunset, the virtuoso orchestra created
by Barenboim with the best Israeli and Palestinian musicians
will form a symbol of freedom and peace between the
peoples, accompanied by the Choeur de l’Orchestre de Paris
and exceptional soloists.
A universal
masterpiece, the
last symphony of
Beethoven echoes the
great choral pieces
of Handel and has
plunged audiences
into the same intense
emotional experience
since its premiere.
picnic on the banks of the
GrAND CANAL – rEPUBLICAN picnic
Thursday 14 July, from 11: 00 am to 4: 00 pm
In previous years, this event brought together
nearly 10,000 guests. This year’s picnic will
be held once again on the bank of the Grand
Canal, beside the stretch of water called the
Bassin du Fer-à-Cheval (Horseshoe Pool).
A “Local Produce Village” dedicated to local
producers, brass bands, a dance with accordion
music and other surprises will liven up this
day. Conviviality, conversations, encounters
and discoveries will make this event truly
unforgettable! One simple obligation:
come dressed all in white.