Interview with Cyril Diederich

From a conversation between Jean-Pierre Gérault and Cyril Diederich, artistic director of the "Concerts au coucher de soleil" in Oppède le Vieux, was born the desire to offer, outside the summer season, concert evenings accessible to all audiences in the Vaucluse region. This is how, on the collective initiative of three villages in the Luberon Monts de Vaucluse agglomeration community, Oppède, Lourmarin and Gordes, the Summer Solstice Concerts were born on 18/19 and 22 June.

We had the honour of interviewing Cyril Diederich

Why summer solstice concerts? What makes them special?

CD: We wanted to present concerts outside the summer season to have an even more advanced and personal approach between the public and the artists. The chosen venues are open and in contact with the public: the square in Oppède le Vieux, the church square in Lourmarin and the church in Gordes. Symbolic places where the acoustics accompany the performance.

What will be the programme for these three evenings and why this one?

CD: My primary vocation is to conduct, focusing on voices and great lyrical works. So we have naturally chosen to present the great opera arias with the singer Inna Kalugina.

Can you tell us about her and the orchestra?

CD: I discovered Inna Kalugina at one of the many auditions I regularly do. She is currently one of the most talented hopefuls in opera singing. As for the orchestra, it is composed of five of the best musicians from the Paris Opera Orchestra and the national orchestras of Radio-France.

Are you used to organising such concerts in non-classical venues?

CD: Yes, I like it and I have been trying for years to bring music to atypical open-air venues: the square in front of the collegiate church of Notre-Dame Dalidon in Oppède le Vieux is an example, as will be the square in the centre of Lourmarin.
The summer festival, "Sunset Concerts", is a testament to the enthusiasm of music lovers for open-air concerts with a quality programme. We play to full houses every year.

What is your approach?

CD: I want to give superb moments of emotion to opera connoisseurs and reach out to another audience who may consider that opera is "not for them". I seek to bring and open up this mysterious world of opera to all generations through an accessible and beautiful operatic programme performed by generous artists.

Is there a link with the August sunset concerts?

CD: We are continuing our in-depth work in the village of Oppède and are now opening it up to other communes in the area. This allows the presence of music from the beautiful days and why not imagine even concerts at the winter solstice.

The concerts

Vendredi 18 juin / 20h30
Oppède le Vieux
Collégiale Notre Dame Dalidon

Samedi 19 juin / 20h30
Lourmarin
Place de l’église St André/St Trophime

Mardi 22 juin / 20h
Gordes
Eglise Saint Firmin

Réservation en ligne sur www.luberoncoeurdeprovence.com
04 90 71 32 01
Renseignements Concerts : www.lesconcertsaucoucherdusoleil.com
07 84 69 11 49

Tarifs
Adultes 26€ / Moins de 18ans 16€

The program

Inna Kalugina

Inna Kalugina is a native of Ukraine. She has won prizes in numerous competitions, studied with prestigious music teachers and obtained a master's degree at the National Academy of Music of Ukraine. In 2019, she will continue her studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. It was there that Cyril Diederich discovered her during a singing competition in 2020. He hired her for a first concert in Oppède le Vieux. She will also take part in the fifth edition of the sunset concerts on 27 August 2021 at the collegiate church of Notre Dame Dalidon.