Royan Festival

The Royan Festival (or more fully in French the Festival international d'art contemporain de Royan) was held in Royan from 1964 to 1977. It was a multi-disciplinary annual event, bringing together:

an important contemporary music festival;
dance performances;
theater;
movies;
international exhibitions of photographic research;
exhibitions of visual arts and arts of the East, the Far East and Africa.

Created in 1963 by Dr. Bernard Gachet, the festival was primarily focused on contemporary music. Its artistic director was Claude Samuel from 1964 to 1972 then Harry Halbreich from 1973 to 1977. The festival was held annually for one week around Easter. Soon, its musical production, the Festival de Royan became as famous as those of Donaueschingen and Venice.

The Olivier Messiaen international piano competition was part of the festival until 1971. In 1972, it was replaced by a flute competition.

Publishing and principal creations

1966

Triad of Gilbert Amy ;
Interference of Paul Méfano ;
Natura Sonoris of Penderecki ;
Terretektorh of Iannis Xenakis ;
Variations for orchestra of Igor Stravinsky .

1967

I archipelago of Boucourechliev ;
On the opera travel to Betsy Jolas ;
Is survived waves of Gérard Masson .

1968

Trajectoires by Gilbert Amy
Les temps restitué by Jean Barraqué
Lines by Paul Méfano
Imaginario II by Luis de Pablo
Punkte by Stockhausen
Solo by Donatoni
Nuits by Xenakis.

1969

Sinfonia by Berio
Archipelago II by Boucourechliev
Polychrome Reliefs by Jean-Pierre Guézec
Quadrivium by Bruno Maderna
Nomos Gamma by Xenakis

1970

This star teaches bow of Gilbert Amy ;
IV archipelago of Boucourechliev ;
Fourteen Stations of Marius Constant ;
Ceremony II by Pierre Henry ;
Holydays Symphony of Charles Ives ;
The Ceremony of Paul Méfano .

1971

The theme this year was the contemporary music of Eastern Europe.

Schichten, by Alsina;
Austrahlungen, by Vinko Globokar;
Screen, by Anatol Vieru;
Synaphaï, by Iannis Xenakis.

It was also the year that created the international exhibition of photographic research (SIRP).

1972

The edition was devoted mainly to the "younger generation".

Ludwig Van by Mauricio Kagel ;
Madrigal of Paul Méfano ;
Lovercraft of Tristan Murail .

1973

Solo of Franco Donatoni ;
Preludes and Fugue for Lutoslawski ;
Kermit of Francois-Bernard Mache ;
Blue far from Gérard Masson ;
Extensions of Francis Miroglio ;
24 Preludes of Maurice Ohana ;
Cello Concerto by Penderecki ;
Choralvorspiele of Dieter Schnebel ;
Photoptosis and ecclesiastical action of Bernd Alois Zimmermann .

1974

That year, no fewer than 49 composers (including 15 born after 1940) are found in Royan, 18 different nationalities. Cent creations will be produced during a week.

Clocks and Clouds of Ligeti ;
Symphony of René Koering ;
The drift of the continents of Tristan Murail ;
Missa brevis and Sieben Sterne of Brian Ferneyhough ;
Shanti of Jean-Claude Eloy ;
Melodies of Paul Méfano ;
Tenebrae of Klaus Huber ;
Bergkristall of Sylvano Bussotti ;
Aura of Bruno Maderna ;
On Mi of Boesmans ;
Quartet of René Koering ;
Quartet of Gérard Masson .

1975

Sonatas for String Quartet and Transit by Brian Ferneyhough ;
Quartet by Heinz Holliger ;
Sands by Tristan Murail ;
Memories to the memory of Giuseppe Sinopoli ;
Lamento di Gesu by Radulescu ;
Espressivo by Franco Donatoni ;
Pinturas Negras and Tiempo para espacios by Cristobal Halffter ;
Puzzle by Philippe Manoury ;
Threnody by Boucourechliev ;
Down to a Sunless Sea by Hugues Dufour ;
Musik im Bauch by Karlheinz Stockhausen .

1976

Waves of Paul Méfano ;
Ecce Opus by Francisco Guerrero ;
Cello Concerto by Cristobal Halffter ;
Cello Concerto in Isang Yun ;
III intervals of Boesmans ;
Sinfonie of Friedrich Cerha .

1977

The Storm and Erewhon by Hugues Dufourt
Symphony by Jacques Lenot
Lichtzwang by Wolfgang Rihm
Symphony No. 3 by Henryk Górecki
Ruf by Emmanuel Nunes

Notes and references

1. Photographie.com: 30 years of SIRP [ archive ]

Bibliography

Festival international d'art contemporain de Royan 1964-1977 - Henri Besancon, Ed. Bonne Anse, 158 pages, 2007