1999: “LOVE AND JOY” IN THE MARKET SQUARE AND IN THE TOWN

The 1999 Winegrowers Festival was designed and directed by François Rochaix. It was designed in five parts, entrusted to a poet and to three composers. From the start, the extremely visual and theatrical aspects of the show were based on the Baroque, combining popular and intellectual art, and definitely harking back to History. The last Winegrowers Festival of the millennium could not do otherwise. It had to somehow include former festivals and reveal historical awareness. It returned to the basic concepts with the myths and symbols of the past, and at the same time was a display of open-minded attitudes towards others and the world. More than ever before, it placed the vineyard workers and growers at the heart of the performance.

A single celebration, the Coronation, was entirely dedicated to them. Subsequently Arlevin, the fictional facetious, waggish vineyard-worker, represented them throughout the fourteen performances. The 1999 Winegrowers Festival told the story of Arlevin, who as a child was completely self-absorbed, then selfishly gloried in his own fame and crown, later dreamed about foregone festivals before setting out on an initiation journey where he matured and, in the end, shared his crown with all the winegrowers of the world. After the vibrant finale “Amour et joie (“Love and Joy”) sung in unison by all the participants, the rejoicing in the streets of the town was an integral part of the Festival. The town of Vevey became the protagonist of the party and the events in the Old Town, and all the spectators became performers. 

PERFORMANCE

Abbot-President: Marc-Henri Chaudet
Design and direction: François Rochaix
Music: Jean-François Bovard, Michel Hostettler, Jost Meier
Libretto : François Debluë
Choreography: Serge Campardon
Costumes: Catherine Zuber
Scenography: Jean-Claude Maret
Conductor: Fabio Luisi
Orchestras: Suisse Romande Orchestra
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra.

WINEGROWERS AND VINEYARD WORKERS CROWNED

Raymond Favez
Jean-Daniel Crausaz
Gaston Butty
Jean-François Franceschini
Salvatore Lecci
(19 also received distinctions and 73 received awards)

ARENAS AND STAGE SETTING

Two stands with 8,000 seats each looking out across the lake, following the contours of the Market Square. Stage in the square and one on a sloping dais above the lake.

SPECIFIC AND NEW ASPECTS OF THE FESTIVAL

A single celebration – the Coronation
Leading role: Arlevin, the fictional vineyard-worker
Saint Martin’s Fair, Garden of Orpheus, People of Yesteryear and Tomorrow, Vineyard-workers Band, The Red Chorus, Proserpina, Hades, Hermes, Pierre the Cow-herder, Servant and Priest, The Dead and guest winegrowers from Romania (winegrowers of the world), Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Solar eclipse 11.08.1999.
Party in the town – Radio Arlevin.

THE FESTIVAL IN FIGURES

5,200 actors and participants
1 coronation ceremony, 7 matinees and 7 evening performances, 3 parades
Prices of seats CHF 65.00 to 260.00.
Budget CHF 54,000,000
Profits CHF 4,151,332.00

For the first time a radio station, Radio Arlevin, gave non-stop information and made it possible for the director to be heard directly by the thousands of actors and extras on a daily basis.