VILLENEUVE-LEZ-AVIGNON Claude Sérillon, Lydie Salvayre, Patrick de Carolis… guests of the “Literary Garden”
During the months of June and July, poetry, contemporary literature and classical music intertwine in the gardens of the Abbaye Saint-André. This beautiful green setting and its vaults, offering a breathtaking view of Villeneuve and Avignon, will once again host the 4th edition of the Poetic and Musical Secret Gardens.
The event is organized by the association Violoncell’Emois, recognized as being of general interest and which has about thirty members. The program is divided into different appointments, always on an intimate scale, from sunrise to dusk. From June 23 to 26, at 6.30 p.m., place at the “Literary Garden”. Each time, several Violoncell’Emois readers will read texts aloud with their author. It is always a question of revealing an unknown facet, a secret garden of a personality known for something else.
We will begin on June 23 with the journalist-writer Claude Sérillon who will present his collection of poetry “Se donne rendez-vous”. The next day, it will be the turn of Lydie Salvayre, winner of the 2014 Goncourt Prize, to lend herself to the exercise of wandering in five voices around her latest work “Rêver Debout”. On Saturday June 25, there will be Bénédicte des Mazery and the author of thrillers Thierry Bourcy who will also play in the poetic register. Patrick de Carolis will bring up the rear with his carte blanche: poets from the early 20th century. Price: €25 (€20 reduced).
On July 6, 7 and 8, the “Musical Garden” will take place. Not to be missed: cellist Henri Demarquette plays the complete suites for solo cello by Johann Sebastian Bach. The even-numbered suites have already been played in June, the odd-numbered suites remain on July 6 at 7 p.m. in the gardens of the Abbey. The public will then be able to enjoy an evening moving from the Baroque to the Belle Époque on July 7th. And on July 8, place for the vibrant Habarena duet with flute and accordion. Beautiful evenings in perspective always punctuated by an intermission-aperitif. Price: €25 (reduced €20), full Bach pass €40.
And for early risers, the Violoncell’Emois association is preparing the “Jardin matinal”: three musical and poetic levers of sunshine which will take place in July on the 10th, 17th and 24th from 5:30 am. The alarm clock stings a little but the show is worth the candle. Participants could admire the sunrise from the large panoramic terraces and then enjoy musical readings under the vaults with breakfast. On Sundays July 10 and 24, excerpts from the text “Les Mains libre” by Jeanne Benameur will be read, accompanied by a cello. On the 17th, the author Célia Houdart shared aloud her work “A whole distant world” to the sound of Élodie Baile’s harp. Price: €20 (€15 reduced).
Mary Meunier
Reservation on abbeysaintandre.fr or by phone on 06 64 01 59 43.