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News from the Members

05.07.2017
Concert given by Florence Delaage in Budapest
Homage paid to Pierre Louis Cordier (1922-2016), former President of the Paris Cercle National Richard Wagner at a concert-lecture at the French Institute in Budapest.
A rare moment of emotion was shared by those Wagnerians present in Budapest for the International Congress during the Concert-Conference given by Florence Delaage and Christian Ducor.

At the RWVI Congress held in Budapest from 7 to 11 June 2017, a solemn homage was paid to Pierre-Louis Cordier, who died in August 2016.  He had presided over the destiny of the Paris Cercle National Richard Wagner for 30 years from 1974 to 2004, first as Vice-President and then as President for the final fifteen years.

At the initiative of Christian Ducor, member of the RWVI Board, some fifty delegates - mainly French-speaking - gathered at the French Institute in Budapest on the afternoon on Saturday 10 June 2017.  These included Mrs Eva-Wagner Pasquier, Honorary President of the Paris Society, and Mr Horst Eggers, President of the RWVI.

After a brief introduction by Christian Ducor, Michèle Bessout, current President of the Cercle Richard Wagner of Nice Côte d'Azur, traced the path of Pierre-Louis Cordier at the Cercle de Paris from its foundation in 1966 until recent years when he became Honorary President following his retirement in 2004. No-one could have recalled the Wagnerian passion that animated their existence better or with as much pride and affection than she, who shared his life for 35 years.

Christian Ducor followed by reading a few extracts from the last lecture that Pierre-Louis Cordier had delivered in Paris in October 2011, on the occasion of the bicentennial of the birth of Franz Liszt: "Franz Liszt, Prince by heart as much as by talent" in whom the qualities of the pen rivaled those of erudition: a literary enchantment.

This lecture was illustrated by a few pieces composed by Franz Liszt, Hans von Bülow and Richard Wagner, played on the piano by Florence Delaage, an internationally renowned pianist and longtime friend of Pierre-Louis Cordier, a musical delight.

At the end of the concert, Michèle Bessout added that, in accordance with the wishes of Pierre-Louis Cordier, she had given herself the task of preserving his memory by reviving his lectures and that this was undoubtedly the most beautiful tribute that could be accorded to him.

There followed a moment of intense emotion during which most of the women present - even those who had not known Pierre-Louis Cordier personally - could not help but wipe away a small tear ... An unforgettable memory for all !

 Report by Michèle Bessout