The Forests Festival will be taking place, for a taste of the music in the palm trees

one after The other, festivals are fallen, dead branches taken out by a bad virus. Bitter observation for the culture, which loses one of its main attractions. Between the trees of the wood of Compiègne and Laigue, an event that has decided to resist until the end, the Festival of the Forests. Founded in 1992, the event combines classical music, nature and well-being. Long threatened by the virus, the festival has chosen to wait as late as possible before making a decision on his outfit or not. With the decline of the Covid-19, he will stand finally in the 19 June to 15 July. "We wanted the festival to take place, that there is something going on and that it is not a year away. We also wanted to show that by adapting the culture can withstand the crisis," says Bruno Ory-Lavollée, founder, president and artistic director of this event.

read also : Cancelled, held or postponed ? The guide to the festivals at the time of the coronavirus

The health crisis has, nevertheless, forced the organizers to review their copy and make fi sometimes a fuzzy art in terms of government regulations to follow. "We didn't know what would be the applicable rules at the time of the festival. We are based on the prohibition of gathering of more than 10 people. Gold we had in the program, these "Baths, forest music, marches, combining healing, listening to nature and music", says he.

Music and nature at the service of the self

Put in place for two years and renamed this year "the Baths of the forest", this concept is based on a getaway trip of three hours. In a small group of ten, therefore, accompanied by a mediator, the nature and a musician, this immersion in the countryside allows you to relax in music. "The walking time does not exceed one hour. There are five or six stops, including an hour of exercise of listening to oneself, mainly from yoga, and relaxation therapy. Breathing exercises, concentration, listening, and contemplation of nature also. In the middle of it, there are four breaks of music", explains Bruno Ory-Lavollée.

We wanted there to be a real music program, and that some of them are with prestigious artists such as Philippe Bernold, or even Christian-Pierre Lamarca

Bruno Ory-Lavollée

The festival is a lot of emphasis on this activity, country, without which he doesn't hide it - this twenty-eighth edition would not have been able to unfold. This is why a great deal of resources have been deployed. "We have worked the "Baths of the forest" as real concerts. We wanted there to be a real music program, and that some of them are with prestigious artists such as Philippe Bernold, or even Christian-Pierre Lamarca," says the organizer. These walks will include the theatre of creations of new works, a specialty of the festival. Usually, this hike music ends around a cup of tea, but the health standards have been because of this moment of conviviality.

Measures the four-stroke

Despite health concerns, the program of the festival reserve all the same surprises. "We had to have 21 gigs, it still remains 9. Some are deferred to the end of August-beginning of September or next year", lamented the fact that even Bruno Ory-Lavollée. The Fête de la musique, June 21, is also a collateral victims of the virus. "We thought of aubades and playing on the seats in the different districts of Compiègne, where lots of people can listen from their windows. We also planned something in the lobby of the hospital. But there will be a municipal ordinance prohibiting all open-air event", he complained. A quartet of French horn was provided for the occasion, but will eventually be repatriated in a different place.

'Hear classical music in nature is a totally different experience". Credit B. Teissedre.

Considered less of a risk, the children will be promoted through the workshops on "Small Zoreils" and the "Concert" family. "It is still very hard, when you have designed a program that was more than twenty concerts and you need to cut the members. We decided to remove only a single child, thinking that it should focus on the transmission of the music".

As for supermarkets, we're going to channel queues with elastic all the meters

Bruno Ory-Lavollée.

The capacity has significantly been reduced and the organization puts the emphasis on the safety rules. "The decree says "an empty seat between each person or each person who has been confined in it together", but we're going to do more than that, especially indoors," says the president of the festival.

many actions are planned to ensure the smooth running of the concerts, paying attention to the placement, inputs and outputs : "As for supermarkets, we're going to channel queues with elastic all the meters. Protect our volunteers with masks, visors, and gel for all. We have 1000 masks in reserve, ready at the entrance for those who do not. The public must be hidden at gigs, maybe not for the markets."

The provisions should, however, evolve, except in the case of reversal of the epidemic. And for Bruno Ory-Lavollée, the continuation of the Festival of the Forests is a real relief. "To hear classical music in nature is a totally different experience," he stressed. Because, if the acoustics is significantly less good, listening is better."

The Festival of the Forest - Presentation