From Douarnenez to Landrévarzec via Penmarc’h, Pont-Croix, Plovan, Plouhinec via Pointe du Raz, Landévennec and Châteaulin, musicians will travel by bike, from June 29 to July 6, 2024, and give a music concert baroque every evening. After Flanders and Sarthe, the original concept of “ Freewheeling Concerts’ returns to Cornwall.
“These concerts bring together practices that are rarely combined: sharing great music in places where this repertoire is rarely present, traveling exclusively by bicycle, transporting instruments included,” explains Jean-Marc Haddad, the artistic director of the project, on behalf of his entire team.
The five professional musicians, specialized in interpretation on historical instruments, are part of major orchestras such as the Talens Lyriques, the Musiciens du Louvre, Insula Orchestra, the Concert de la Loge and the Arts Florissants.
Vivaldi, Castello or even Veracini
“The project simply concretizes the realization of our deep convictions: carbon-free travel and consumption of local products, social ties in rural communities,” says Jean-Marc Haddad. As we travel to the populations, they do not have to use their individual vehicles. Furthermore, the technical and logistical installation of the stage where we perform is basic.”
We were very happy to see that many wanted to continue this musical moment after the concert and that our audience was not exclusively an informed audience.
A graduate of the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Jean-Marc Haddad continued his “violinistic” research through his learning of baroque music, notably with Stefano Montanari, at the Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano. On this tour, he is accompanied by Marjolaine Cambon (cello and viola da gamba), Jon Olaberria (oboe), Alain Pégeot (violin and viola) and Clara Mühlethaler (violin). The program, “constantly evolving”, according to the artistic director, will offer pieces by Handel, Dall’Abaco, Vivaldi, Castello and Veracini.
“Sharing our love of music”
These free-wheeling artists performed in churches, but also in more atypical places: castles, campsites, sheepfolds, restaurants, libraries, open-air theaters, associative places, etc. “It allowed us to interact with a wider audience. We were very happy to see that many wanted to continue this musical moment after the concert and that our audience was not exclusively an informed audience. To this satisfaction was added the happiness of simply being able to share our love of music,” analyzes Jean-Marc Haddad.
The tour will begin at L’Invraisemblable, in Douarnenez, on June 29, at 9 p.m., then pass through Penmarc’h (Sainte-Thumette church on June 30, at 6 p.m.), Pont-Croix (Notre-Dame de Roscudon collegiate church, on July 1, at 7 p.m.), Plovan (Saint-Gorgon church, July 2, at 7 p.m.), Plouhinec (Saint-Winoc church on July 3 at 7:30 p.m.), Landevennec (communal hall, July 4, at 6:30 p.m.), Châteaulin (Kerluan chapel, July 5, at 7 p.m.) then Landrévarzec (Quilinen chapel, July 6, at 8 p.m.).
