A concert by the Musique de la Garde Republicane harmony orchestra is organized at Les Mazures, Sunday November 3, 2024. Is this a first?
Éric Lemonnier, deputy conductor of the Musique de la Garde Republicane harmony orchestra : Yes, for more than twenty years. In any case, for my part, it's the first time.
Hubert Destenay, president of the Cheveuges football club : Yes, we have already brought in the Cavalry of the Republican Guard which is a different orchestra than the one which will come on Sunday November 3 to Les Mazures.
You come to the Ardennes at the request of the Cheveuges club. Is playing for a local association, a sports club, etc. usual for the Republican Guard?
EL : Yes and no. We do seven to eight concerts per year throughout France. The rest of the year, we play for official, protocol events. Like state dinners, arrivals of political figures at the airport, July 14 at the Élysée, etc.
It is important to note that the Republican Guard is home to several distinct musical ensembles, three in total. But you should also know that there are several orchestras in the Republican Guard. We are the harmony orchestra of the Republican Guard Music.
Roughly speaking, the difference is the formation of the orchestra. Unlike other orchestral formations, the wind band not only includes the wind instruments and percussion typical of ensembles of this type, but it also includes drums and bugles
Are these the same musicians who accompanied singer Aya Nakamura at the opening of the Olympic Games who will come to Les Mazures?
EL : Yes ! It's me who is mainly seen on the screen, to the right of the singer dancing. Besides, initially, we weren't supposed to move. It was Thomas Joly (the director of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, editor's note) who wanted us to dance and that didn't bother us! On the contrary, it was a day of celebration, the Olympic Games, not a protocol ceremony. In the end, it became a landmark painting of the Olympic Games.
H.D. : Yes, they are the same people. But we had anticipated the buzz that their performance would be. We had already booked them well in advance.
Before starting the table called “Equality”, was there any apprehension within the ranks?
EL : Apprehension not really but we knew that the performance was going to get people talking. We rehearsed three times in secret locations and everything was validated by our hierarchy and by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. Everything went very well and the artist, Aya Nakamura, is very friendly!
What did you think of the criticism leveled at this collaboration which we thought was unimaginable?
EL : We had a lot of them. But it was a moment that left its mark on people and minds. It's the meeting of two different worlds, yes, but above all it was very symbolic.
We opened the doors of the Guard wide for a festive moment. A spectacle which brought modern values and which proves that the Republican Guard can adapt, live with the times while respecting the protocol ceremonies. It was a real honor, a very, very nice reward.
That doesn't mean that protocol must disappear either. The proof, during the closing of the Paralympic Games, we were there but in a much more formal way, well aligned.
What about after the Games?
EL : We are going to bounce back from this moment. We would like to be able to replay the “Aya Nakamura Special” medley. We have already asked Victor Le Masne (musical director of the Games Editor's note) to do the music for us. For the moment, nothing has been decided or done.
During Sunday's concert, will you play music by Aya Nakamura or more classical pieces?
EL : We're going to stick with more classic pieces.
H.D. : The pieces performed will be classics of traditional French music. Like Les Misérables or marches, like the Lorraine march.
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