French Guitar Holidays
I‘ve had the
pleasure of attending the Music en Chablais two years
running. Strictly speaking this is a general music summer school catering
for a broad range of instruments; violin, cello, woodwind, piano as well
as guitar. However guitar was the main focus of the event.
The 10-day festival took place in August amidst a backdrop of the beautiful
French Alps to the west and Lake Léman to the East. In 2002 the
venue was a school in Thonon et Bains while this year (2003) 'Les Alouettes'
Youth Hostel and adjacent hotel in the alpine village of Champagnes hosted
the event.
The festival culminated in a series of concerts; the venues mostly being local churches. All participants are encouraged to perform both as soloists and in ensemble.
This annual festival was founded in 1978 by Fernando Fernandez-Lavie, and every year since he has organised the event. Fernando Fernandez-Lavie an outstanding guitarist in his time was the premiere chair of guitar in 1953 in Alger, then in Strasburg from 1962.
The event appeals to all age groups there being many children and teenagers attending however no age group predominates so whatever one’s age you’ll feel at home.
I attended guitar lessons with a French guitar professor Jean-Pierre Billet and
benefited greatly from his patient practical teaching approach. His English
was excellent and this was true of most of the tutors there. Billet did a good
job teaching the guitar ensemble groups (in English and French). Jean-Pierre
Billet demonstrated his love of Praetorius in an interesting recital with cellist
Frank Van Lamsweerde. The theme of the concert was dance. Here the guitar peices
(Praetorius) alternated with those of the cello (mainly Bach) to play Gavottes
Courantes and other dance styles. A final section saw the two play together
in special arrangements of Granados, Schubert and Marchelie.
The guest guitarist was Eduardo Baranzano born in Uruguay but now living
in the South of France. Winner of the national French competition for
guitar organized by Radio France and the national guitar competition in
La Havana (Cuba) in 1990. This charismatic man made a great impression
participating in many events and performing stunning solo concerts. Every
day during the breaks between work shops and for meals Baranzano would
be there, laughing, socialising and enjoying every moment.
Luckily I was able to attend a flamenco workshop with Baranzano which was a good introduction to rasgueados technique.
We were all struck by Baranzano’s amazing tenacity when he played in a packed Chapel on the night of August 16th. Despite a gathering storm during which windows were flung open by wind and rain he played the first half of his concert of Leo Brouwer unabashed. Fortunately by the second half the storm abated so we able to enjoy the Barrios, Falu, Carlievato and Gismonti without distractions. The variety of music he played was quite astonishing. He demonstrated some of his own arrangements he’d made of Debussy.
A year before we had been similarly dazzled by Eleftheria
Kotzia, who as well as playing solo, partnered the French flutist
Sandra Mavel with some wonderful arrangements of Villa Lobos, Ibert and
Piazzola. Among the solos she played was the lovely newly discovered Villa
Lobos piece, 'Valse Concerto no. 2'.
I had then been among a troop of Brits attending the festival for Eleftheria’s
classes in August 2002. I was so taken by the event I had to come the
following year.
For those guitarists who wanted to play in ensemble with other instruments
there was plenty of opportunity. The teachers were very flexible helping
those so inspired. I got together with a remarkable recorder player; Françoise
Compain, to try some guitar and recorder arrangements of Dowland and contributed
with guitar and voice to a choral arrangement of the Beatles Michelle
organised by Jean-Pierre Billet wife Julia.
In more recent years Eleftheria
Kotzia has been directing a Summer Guitar school in France called STAGE/FESTIVAL DE 'GUITARE EN FRANCE' - Chateau de Ligoure. Situated in the stunning French countryside near Limoges the Chateau de Ligoure 10 day Summer course of ensemble and solo teaching from Eleftheria
Kotzia and guest guitarists. It features a series of evening recitals known as 'les nuits de la guitare' which includes performances by the studens attending.