It could only happen in Montpellier.
A chance encounter.
7/15/20243 min read
In addition to the marvellous evening concerts that I mentioned in my last blog, the Radio France Festival offers a day time programme too. This is a chance for young up- and- coming artists to shine , and we enjoyed some great talent: A Russian 17 year old piano prodigy named Alexandra Dovgan; Emilia Bertolini, a young singer of baroque music(I also particularly enjoyed the young viol de gamba musician who accompanied her; )and finally a young guitarist named Edith Pageaud. This last concert was to prove memorable for more than one reason.
It was our last morning . We had decided to enjoy one final lunch-time concert before we returned home. The performance was to be given by a solo guitar player, Edith Pageaud. We were certainly not disappointed. Her repertoire was varied and enjoyable, from Vila Lobos to Piazzolla. There is something magic about hearing a single acoustic guitar being played in a large concert hall. What's more this young artist made a beautiful spectacle as she sat alone in the middle of a vast stage, with her precious guitar resting in the sumptuous folds of her red satin dress.
As we left, we saw a small and lonely figure outside the entrance to the concert hall. Dressed in jeans , she carried a large white guitar case on her back. Was this really the 'star of the performance' standing alone? Somehow it didn't seem right.
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We decided to have a bite to eat in the Corum Brasserie before we returned home. Shortly afterwards our 'star ' entered, and joined a table of her friends who were sitting right next to us. This star struck fan remained silent. After all, I thought to myself, all performers deserve some anonymity. I didn't even ask her to autograph our programme!
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But this is not the first time that this has happened to us; After one memorable piano recital, we found ourselves sitting next to David Kadouch, a renowned young French pianist. And many years ago, who should walk in to the restaurant where we were enjoying a post concert supper, but the conductor and the composer of the very piece of music we had been listening to.
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It could only happen in Montpellier!