News
28.07.2021
Death of André Demarck, President of the Cercle Richard Wagner - Marseille Provence
Dear Wagner friends,
André was the President of the Cercle Richard Wagner - Marseille Provence for more than 10 years, having taken over from Geneviève De Laportbarré in 2009. For a long time he was also an active Vice-President of the society, working tirelessly to develop it. At the last congress of the International Association of the Richard Wagner Societies in Venice he was awarded the prestigious "Golden W".
He belonged to the band of enthusiasts on whom Richard Wagner's influence had been profound. A Wagnerian at heart and in spirit, he was always on the lookout for new discoveries, rare recordings or learned nuggets, enabling him to fuel the many lectures he gave at the Cercle de Marseille. His great musical culture, his passion and his energy made him the "first" lecturer of his Wagner Society, appropriately recalling what his compatriot Marcel Pagnol wrote: "He who is capable of feeling passion, is he that can inspire it".
Having known André since the 1990s, I am deeply affected by his passing. That was the time when he came from Marseille with some members of the Cercle to attend the traditional annual seminar of the Cercle Richard Wagner in Lyon. And in the years that followed, he was a faithful regular at Wagnerian events in Lyon. Each visit was an opportunity for him to treat me to a few delicacies from Marseille. For André was always attentive to others. And it was not only his famous sing-song accent from the Vieux-Port that endeared him to people but also his kindness, his humour which made him a joyful companion and his immense modesty, . He now leaves a great void...
He led the Cercle Richard Wagner Marseille Provence with an unfailing devotion. As such, he deserves the full recognition of his Wagnerian friends, whether from Marseille or elsewhere; André's reputation went beyond the borders of Provence, as he was such a faithful attendee of the congresses of the Richard Wagner Verband International.
His funeral will take place this Friday 30 July in the Estaque church in Marseille.
With immense sadness
Pascal Bouteldja
President
CRW Lyon
André was the President of the Cercle Richard Wagner - Marseille Provence for more than 10 years, having taken over from Geneviève De Laportbarré in 2009. For a long time he was also an active Vice-President of the society, working tirelessly to develop it. At the last congress of the International Association of the Richard Wagner Societies in Venice he was awarded the prestigious "Golden W".
He belonged to the band of enthusiasts on whom Richard Wagner's influence had been profound. A Wagnerian at heart and in spirit, he was always on the lookout for new discoveries, rare recordings or learned nuggets, enabling him to fuel the many lectures he gave at the Cercle de Marseille. His great musical culture, his passion and his energy made him the "first" lecturer of his Wagner Society, appropriately recalling what his compatriot Marcel Pagnol wrote: "He who is capable of feeling passion, is he that can inspire it".
Having known André since the 1990s, I am deeply affected by his passing. That was the time when he came from Marseille with some members of the Cercle to attend the traditional annual seminar of the Cercle Richard Wagner in Lyon. And in the years that followed, he was a faithful regular at Wagnerian events in Lyon. Each visit was an opportunity for him to treat me to a few delicacies from Marseille. For André was always attentive to others. And it was not only his famous sing-song accent from the Vieux-Port that endeared him to people but also his kindness, his humour which made him a joyful companion and his immense modesty, . He now leaves a great void...
He led the Cercle Richard Wagner Marseille Provence with an unfailing devotion. As such, he deserves the full recognition of his Wagnerian friends, whether from Marseille or elsewhere; André's reputation went beyond the borders of Provence, as he was such a faithful attendee of the congresses of the Richard Wagner Verband International.
His funeral will take place this Friday 30 July in the Estaque church in Marseille.
With immense sadness
Pascal Bouteldja
President
CRW Lyon