Royan Festival
The Royan Festival (or more fully in French the Festival international d'art contemporain de Royan) was held in Royan, in the department of Charente-Maritime in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwest France 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
De Natura Sonoris of Krzysztof Penderecki
Terretektorh of Iannis Xenakis
Variations for Orchestra of Igor Stravinsky
=== 1967 ===
Archipelago I by André Boucourechliev
On the opera travel by Betsy Jolas
Dans le deuil des vagues I by Gérard Masson
=== 1968 ===
Trajectoires by Gilbert Amy
Le Temps restitué by Jean Barraqué
Lines by Paul Méfano
Imaginario II by Luis de Pablo
Punkte by Karlheinz Stockhausen
Solo by Franco Donatoni
Nuits by Iannis Xenakis
=== 1969 ===
Sinfonia by Berio
Archipelago II by Boucourechliev
Polychrome Reliefs by Jean-Pierre Guézec
Quadrivium by Bruno Maderna
Nomos Gamma by Xenakis
=== 1970 ===
Cette étoile enseigne à s'incliner by Gilbert Amy
Archipelago IV by André Boucourechliev
Fourteen Stations by Marius Constant
Ceremony II by Pierre Henry
Holidays Symphony by Charles Ives
The Ceremony by Paul Méfano
=== 1971 ===
The theme this year was the contemporary music of Eastern Europe.Schichten, by Carlos Roqué 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 by Paul Méfano
Lovecraft by Tristan Murail
=== 1973 ===
Solo by Franco Donatoni
Isoritmi by Giuseppe Sinopoli (April 16)
Preludes and Fugue for Witold Lutoslawski
Kermit by François-Bernard Mâche
Blue far from Gérard Masson
Extensions of Francis Miroglio
24 Preludes of Maurice Ohana
Cello Concerto by Penderecki
Choralvorspiele by Dieter Schnebel
Photoptosis and Ecclesiastical Action by 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 by György Ligeti
Symphony of René Koering
The Drift of the Continents by Tristan Murail
Missa brevis and Sieben Sterne of Brian Ferneyhough
Shanti by Jean-Claude Eloy
Melodies of Paul Méfano
Tenebrae by Klaus Huber
Bergkristall by Sylvano Bussotti
Aura by Bruno Maderna
On Mi by 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 ===
Requiem Hashshirim by Giuseppe Sinopoli (mars 25) NDR Chorale
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
== Bibliography ==
Festival international d'art contemporain de Royan 1964-1977 - Henri Besancon, Ed. Bonne Anse, 158 pages, 2007