They said yes !
This Friday, February 8, the meeting at the Charente-Maritime prefecture resulted in an agreement between the State, the city of Royan and the organizing team of the classical music festival Un Violon sur le sable.
The holding of the event which has attracted tens of thousands of spectators at the end of July for 36 years was threatened by the lack of security personnel who will be retained in Paris for the Olympic Games.
“The meeting was consensual, the state services listened and showed flexibility,” underlines Patrick Marengo, the mayor of Royan.
Charente-Maritime is a department with high tourist added value which deserves particular attention.
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“A Lesser Evil”
The prefecture will ensure that the department's police forces are present on Royan beach for the three major concerts.
The condition is that the dates are changed.
Initially scheduled for July 23 to 30, the festival should be held between July 21 and 29 without a concert on the 26th, the date of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Not much on the calendar, but a complete overhaul of the programming for Production 114. “The great lyrical soloists have schedules that are not easily changeable,” points out Philippe Tranchet.
We must therefore recall all the artists, their agents and rearrange the postponement dates which are planned in the event of bad weather.
» A complete change of the planned posters is possible.
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“It’s a lesser evil,” reacts Patrick Marengo.
We are keeping the festival and its three major dates, so overall I am happy even if I am betting on the future.
I keep in mind that the event will have to be well planned to ensure safety.
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Un Violin sur le sable, which is the major festival of the Pays Royannais, will therefore also ensure its important role in the tourist economy.
“Professionals will be able to work,” concludes the mayor of Royan.
And then, in these difficult times, morally, the Violin will do us a lot of good!
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