The fourth Festival of the 20th century is differentiated by a return to roots. There were no star dancers or professional soloists among the 4,000 performers. The librettist Henri Deblu\u00eb went back to the order of the seasons, as in the 19th century, beginning the Festival with Spring and closing with Renewal, or eternal Spring.<\/p>\n
The vineyard\u2019s cycle expresses the return of the seasons, while that of wine breaks it. The juice of the grapes falls into its burial place in the cellars and comes out transfigured into wine – the new wine which symbolises Easter.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of each of the seasons, the authors chose to celebrate one of the four basic elements: Earth, Fire, Water and Air. During the Middle Ages these elements were represented by four constellations of the Zodiac: Taurus, Leo, Aquila and Aquarius. These figures, which became symbols of the seasons themselves, are also the symbols of the four gospel-writers, the four shoots of the Biblical vine.<\/p>\n
Henri Deblu\u00eb introduced these symbols in his libretto and wanted a king, the King of the Festival played by Jean-Samuel Leresche, to allude to their meaning to introduce each season.<\/p>\n
The authors added a winter god to Pales, Ceres and Bacchus. Janus is the personification of the new year:<\/p>\n
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Janus is also the masked god. The authors wished to reconnect with the vibrant traditions of masks used in German-speaking Switzerland and which are mostly also linked to the new year.<\/p>\n
Abbot-President: Philippe D\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9az
Direction: Charles Apoth\u00e9loz
Music: Jean Balissat
Libretto: Henri Deblu\u00eb
Costumes and Scenography: Jean Monod
Authors\u2019 co-workers: Daniel Reichel, Andr\u00e9 Charlet, Philippe Dahlmann<\/p>\n
Louis et Paul Taverney
Marcel Rayroux
Louis Moret
Jean Borghi (87 winegrowers also received distinctions and awards)<\/p>\n
15 776 places<\/p>\n
Stage setting inspired by a large solar clock with the signs of the Zodiac and the foursomes of 4 seasons, 4 elements, 4 cardinal points, plus the King of the Festival.<\/p>\n
Spring: constellation Taurus, symbol of fertility and the Evangelist Luke, women-flowers, children-dandelions<\/p>\n
Summer: constellation Leo, symbol of ripening and the Evangelist Mark, children-stalks of wheat, fishing boats, parade of farm machines, chemical hazards as well as diseases that attack the vines<\/p>\n
Autumn: constellation Aquila, symbol of fertile sacrifices and the Evangelist John, children-grape clusters, giant grape cluster, Pan<\/p>\n
Winter and renewal: constellation Aquarius, symbol of death and rebirth, and the Evangelist Matthew, children-snow-crystals, Janus, return of Noah with the winegrowers of the world.<\/p>\n
4,250 participants
14 performances and 3 parades 4.5 kilometres long
Prices of seats CHF 30.00 to 160.00.
Festival costs CHF 20, 707, 011
Profits: CHF 5,071,423<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
30 JULY \u2013 14 AUGUST 1977: CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM \u201cThe idea of a celebration came to me. If it is successful, it will be something impressive and\u2026 expected. A big celebration, like in ancient times. Or in the spirit of the Middle Ages. Rendering the Festival sacred, giving it a sort of grandeur and dignity, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":752,"parent":1171,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1125","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n