L ‘Eté à Cannes: Les Nuits du Suquet 2017

5 June 2017

Special Rates Available to Our Guests for all Festival Events Throughout July

This July, L ‘Eté à Cannes is set to take the city by storm with a salivating summer schedule; where glittering sun, sea and sand are joined by enthralling evenings of entertainment – as legendary live concerts, gravity defying circus acts and thrilling firework festivals takeover the Cote d’Azur.

See the full schedule here.

Of the eclectic events taking place: The Voice, Les Nuits du Suquet, Cirque Éloize and Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique are ensured to enrich any Cannes itinerary – with guests of Amarante Cannes entitled to exclusive reduced rates for all of these events and more! To receive your reduced rates simply visit the Ticket Office of the Palais des Festivals and present proof that you’re staying at Amarante Cannes when purchasing your tickets.

See below for our brief guide to Les Nuits du Suquet taking place between 19^th July and 23^rd July; where enchanting evenings of classical music can be enjoyed under the stars at Church Notre-Dame d'Espérance. 

Orchestre de Cannes & Ilian Garnetz

19th July 2017 – 21h

As darkness descends over the French Riviera, the illuminated façade of Cannes’ historic church will set the scene for Orchestre de Cannes to commence this year’s Les Nuits du Suquet… with the help of virtuoso violinist, Ilian Garnetz.

Part One of the evening will be conducted by Benjamin Levy, beginning with Carmen Fantasie – Frank Waxman’s Academy Award nominated score for the 1946 movie Humoresque; adapted from Georges Bizet’s canonical Carmen. Levy will then lead the ensemble toward the subtle sounds of Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No.2, Op.55 – before the full range of the Orchestra’s abilities are tested as a new conductor takes over proceedings.

For Part Two, Misha Katz assumes director duties; continuing the concert with Saint-Saëns and his Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso – initially written for eminent violinist Sarasate and masterfully reimagined on the evening by Garnetz. Finally, Katz will then arrive you in Italy, as the sights and sounds of the country are conjured up with the concluding piece of the evening – Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony.

Homage to Benny Goodman

22nd July 2017 – 21h

Clarinet connoisseur Benny Goodman was the undisputed ‘King of Swing’ – whose woodwind prowess led a generation of music fans into the Big Band era of the 1930s.

During his reign supreme as a clarinettist, Goodman took only one protégé under his wing – Julian Milkis; the man who will lead proceedings on the night. An internationally renowned soloist, chamber musician and jazz artist in his own right; Milkis will demonstrate his own competency with a clarinet as he delves into Benny’s iconic back catalogue – entrusting the help of Mikhail Kopelman (violin) and Polina Osetinskaya (piano).

On the evening, the undoubted highlight will be the trio’s rendition of Clarinet Sonata – composed by Francis Poulenc specifically for Goodman; which was premiered shortly after Poulenc’s death at the celebrated Carnegie Hall concert of 1963.

Further climaxes include essential renditions of Beethoven and Mozart, followed by the romantic intensity of Rachmaninov; before finishing with a fantastical finale of American music courtesy of George Gershwin – conjuring up nostalgic imaginings of the Jazz Age and Hollywood.

Mikhail Rudy – The Colours of Chagall

23rd July 2017 – 21h

Concluding the 2017 Les Nuits du Suquet is Mikhail Rudy; lauded among the best pianists in the world for his enduring creativity, charisma and technique – in the past playing under prestigious conductors like Herbert von Karajan, Lorin Maazel, Mariss Jansons and Michael Tilson Thomas.

On the evening, Rudy will begin by returning to his Russian roots with Excerpts from Masterpieces of the Great Russian Repertoire – performing mesmerising piano solos from Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, before closing Part One with Stravinsky’s Petrushka.

Part Two then resumes with the grand finale of Les Nuits du Suquet – Chagall ‘The Sound of Colour’.

When Mikhail Rudy made his Western debut in 1977, the performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto alongside Rostropovich and Stern was for the occasion of prolific painter, Marc Chagall’s 90th birthday – remaining close to Chagall from then on.

Now, Rudy in his Chagall ‘The Sound of Colour’ will perform an original work dedicated to the chef d'oeuvre of the avant-garde artist – the symbolic ceiling of the Opéra Garnier. Chagall’s creation is a homage to the great composers of operas and ballets; thus Rudy will adopt the music of masters like: Gluck, Mozart, Wagner, Debussy and Ravel to celebrate Chagall’s colourful creation.

Additionally, a short film commissioned by Chagall’s family and created by Rudy will be projected onto the façade of Church Notre-Dame d'Espérance, to visually supplement the harmonious sounds of the evening.

See here for the full Les Nuits du Suquet schedule and prepare yourself for enchanting evenings of classical music under-the-stars.