Elena Rozanova says her «incomprehension»Upon the announcement of the non-renewal of her director’s contract. She denounces a “political intrigue».
Elena Rozanova still can’t believe it. The Russian pianist was ousted from the management of the Draguignan conservatory. She has been in this position for six years, on a part-time contract for eight hours a week. As announced Var Matin , Richard Strambio, the new president (various centers) of the agglomeration of Draguignan, has decided not to renew his contract, which was due to end at the end of December.
To believe Elena Rozanova, everything was going well and her work “was starting to bear fruit“. Masterclass, free interventions, then creation of Tous en scène, a street music festival created “with the money saved during the Covid»… «I arrived there under the will of the president of the agglomeration and deputy of the Var [Olivier Audibert-Troin, LR, ndlr], she recalls. He wanted to pull the territory from the top through events, especially in classical music. I told him about the need to popularize our art.The agglomeration conservatory, which has seven schools, has also launched a partnership with the National Education and with the surrounding opera houses, particularly in difficult neighborhoods.
«The results would suffice»
Under the leadership of Elena Rozanova, the number of students more than doubled, from 400 to 900 students. The success of the conservatory would ensure her to keep her post, she believed at the time. “I was naive since I thought that the results would be enough, the requests kept coming to come to the conservatory», She explains.
For its part, the new executive at the Dracénie Provence Verdon agglomeration is assuming the overhaul of its cultural projects initiated since the municipal elections. “Richard Strambio wants to review the project for all cultural facilities», Explains Laurent Sémavoine, general manager of the agglomeration community. The conservatory, equipment “major“And”heavy»Counting 40 professors, is no exception to this great upheaval. “A directorate had to be attached full time to the educational, artistic, management and local life dimension.It is therefore the scale taken by the conservatory that would justify this change of minds. “From an administrative point of view, Elena Rozanova was informed that this contract would not be renewed», Continues Laurent Sémavoine.
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This pattern “administrativeBristles Elena Rozanova. “This proves that political games have passed over a work in progress for 6 years, since I am being told today of a solution administrative. I am sickened by this contempt for people and teams. The observation is not glorious: political games influence culture while it is something eternal that should not toss us from left to right».
«Political intrigues»
The pianist has no doubts: her action has been sacrificed on the altar of political choices. “There were of course previous misunderstandings between the old leadership and the current one, intrigues …, she says. What does culture have to do with this? Someone who wants good and cares about their area, how can they do that? I can’t imagine it can’t please when it comes to taking kids from tough neighborhoods and putting them out the music. I cannot imagine that culture is a question of left or right. When we speak of Bach, of Beethoven, eternal values remain eternal.»
According to Elena Rozanova, her ousting denotes an ignorance of the projects she has carried out. “They have put in a new educational project without having consulted us, so they do not know the old one, castigates the pianist. It is dangerous that people leading an agglomeration making decisions that are neither founded nor studied and just because the political game makes it necessary to change, without knowing on what pretext».
The agglomeration defends itself from any contempt for culture. “It would be a mistake to interpret this as an opposition to a cultural project or an artistic field., warns Laurent Sémavoine, general manager of the agglomeration community. The current president has a literary and cultural profile. He considers it important that a direction be on site full time, for the artistic aspect but also on the educational and musical aspect.»
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Elena Rozanova, however, deplores the “contempt“Of the new majority towards its teams and feels”betrayed». «I would have found it normal to be explained to me, to be told about it. I was not even contacted after the article [paru le 1er décembre dans Var Matin] and my registered letter. I made a request for an interview to be explained to me, request left unanswered», Laments the Russian pianist. Comments differing from those of the agglomeration, which specifies that the president will meet the outgoing director on Thursday, December 10. “Things will be discussed without difficulty, freely», Promises Laurent Sémavoine. If a meeting could not take place before, it is according to the majority because of the confinement.
«It is for the good of the equipment, the teaching, the 900 students, there is no opposition or criticism against Mrs. Rozanova», Insists Laurent Sémavoine. “The president will discuss with Elena Rozanova the question of succession», He promises. Until the pianist leaves her functions, there will be “business continuityBy the end of December, he promised the parents of the 900 students. “Decisions will be made for the appointment of a new leadership or a reformatted leadership».
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