© Bayreuther Festspiele, Meistersinger 2018

News from the Members

18.04.2018
Cercle Wagner Nice Rive Droite - concert
A notable concert was held on 14 April in Nice by the local Cercle Wagner, for the benefit of its scholarship holders
Photos not supplied.  See the original article in French for these.

On 14 April 2018, the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite brought together nearly 600 people, including the main players on the Nice music and opera scene (including the Director of the Nice Opera), for a memorable and exceptional event in the magnificent auditorium of the Nice Conservatory,.  The Director of the Opera, Thierry Muller announced with great pleasure that this event represented the foundation stone of a partnership with the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite, that would underpin the building of a centre of 
excellence for young artists and musicians.

Yves Courmes, President of the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite, had already stated, with justifiable pride, that the proceeds from this event would enable at least two scholars to be sent to Bayreuth for each of the
years 2019 and 2020. In 2018, the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite is sending no fewer than three scholars to Bayreuth, which is a first for a French Wagner Society.

This evening was memorable.  The Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite had called upon the famous pianist François-René Duchâble, a concert performer whose endearing personality, humour and simplicity, along with his talent, spiritual depth and dazzling technique particularly in Wagner's transcriptions by Liszt, contributed to the appeal of the evening. He also accompanied the soloists with great ease and humility.  The occasion was used by him to announce his retirement from stage performances, while committing to offering his art generously to charity.

The Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite had gathered together for this concert a number of its scholarship holders (past and present) for a recital of opera arias. A large audience of connoisseurs were able to appreciate and show their enthusiasm without restraint for the talents of soprano Amélie Robins (2016 scholarship holder), soprano Claudia Sasso and mezzo Ahlima Mhamdi (both 2017 scholarship holders) and tenor Jérémy Duffau, who will participate in the Bayreuth Scholars Week in 2018. Members of the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite were thus able to measure the artistic extension of their selfless commitment.

This event was hailed by the local press as a landmark event.

This fantastic, and above all exemplary, work of the President of the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite, Yves Courmes, assisted by his faithful and devoted team, was crowned by a generous cocktail reception where the atmosphere, warmth and elegance of the Mediterranean region continued late into the night and  included a number of improvised musical interludes. Beautiful projects and encounters will surely see the light of day from this moment when the pure love of music signalled the future of"Wagnérisme niçois".

Written by Christian Ducor