Forty concerts in two months, a site that changes at the last moment, the health pass that must be set up urgently … the organizers of Chartrestivales have had to overcome many difficulties this year.
But they held on. Lucien Roger, president of the Chartrestivales association, which oversees the event, is satisfied with the progress of this edition not at all like the others.
Their most beautiful pictures of Chartrestivales
How do you feel, a few days after the end of Chartrestivales?
First of all, there is great relief, because everything went well. The public had to adapt to many changes: a different place, the introduction of the sanitary pass, no seats… And then there was the weather forecast. But despite the bad weather, no concerts were canceled. We were lucky. Sometimes a thunderstorm has broken out during the day, but never during the evening. The rain did not disturb the artists either. Then when everything stops, you feel a great void. Forty concerts over two months is a lot of work. But hey, we are going to revive very quickly.
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“Forty concerts over two months is a lot of work. “
Lucien Roger (President of Chartrestivales)
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Was the location chosen at the last moment, André-Gagnon Park, suitable?
It is a great place, even if it is a bit far from the city center. The artists were amazed, they all said: “It’s perfect! “. They found a festival atmosphere, outside, in the greenery. But it is not the hypercentre. The tourists who stroll to discover Chartres en lumière did not come, it was too far for them.
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Will you be returning to the city center next year?
This is the whole question. If we have all the permissions, yes. But, if it is technically possible, why not also organize a few evenings at the park? We have to talk to the city’s services, because it can be technically complicated. And we do not know at all what the health situation will be next year.
Do you still have some certainties?
We will not return to the South Portal next year, for various reasons: security, protection of the cathedral’s stained glass windows… We will not be going to Place Marceau either, because there are new establishments, such as Côté Sushi or Pitaya. who opened and who installed terraces. We therefore have the Place des Halles and the Place Châtelet.
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Has the introduction of the health pass reduced your attendance?
The effect wore off in August, as the evenings progressed, even if we never really returned to the situation at the beginning of July, before the measure was introduced. We had no difficult situation to manage, no unpleasant remarks or insults from repressed people. Over the last two weeks of August, the pass was well established, people spontaneously showed their cellphones at the entrance.
What are the most successful shows?
Those of Friday and Saturday. People are more available than on weekdays. We schedule the biggest groups on weekends, but that represents a big financial investment. You can’t afford it every night.
The health pass reduces the number of visitors to Chartrestivales
Have you reached the maximum capacity of 950 spectators?
On the weekend shows, yes. At the beginning of July, before the introduction of the sanitary pass, then on the last shows in August. During the week, we were around 600 people before the health pass, then half after.
Have you already thought about the programming for the next edition?
Not yet. We have around 2,000 group requests per year, which is huge.
Remi Bonnet
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