The 24th edition of the festival takes place in Seine-Maritime and Eure until November 19, 2023. The program invites around thirty female artists from all musical genres with always the same desire: to sing and bring together.
Music and voices on every floor. Every year for 24 years, the Chants d’Elles festival has highlighted female artists. For two weeks (November 4-19, 2023) many sites Seine-Maritime and Eure are transformed into a concert hall.
The festival kicked off yesterday in bars, bookstores and associative places in the Rouen metropolis. And the public was there. “I like this commitment to women,” rejoices a spectator.
ELLES Songs Festival
Chants d’ELLES Festival – (France 3 Normandy / Q. Bral / A. Tournoux / C. Charbonnier)
Music by all and for all
Faithful to its original trademark, the festival continues to reach out to all its audiences in Seine-Maritime and Eure. Concerts take place in places usually dedicated to other activities. Social centers, schools, media libraries and even at home, music is everywhere. “The main goal is to try to reach as varied an audience as possible and not to offer culture only to people who are used to the culture,” assures Elvire Lampérier, member of Chants d’Elles.
For the grand opening day,he Catalina Matorral duo took over the La Tonne café-bookstore in Rouen with their sound theater. A sweet return to the past for singer Marion Cousin. “I was born in Fécamp but I went to the Jeanne d’Arc high school right next door and I came to drink my coffees here between classes,” she remembers. The musician Leonor Stirman, for her part, placed her piano and her funny words at the Darnétal resource center. The evening ended with an “electro musical marathon” with DJ Anne-Lordi and DJ Zaini behind the decks.
Women and voices from around the world
The new edition of Chants d’Elles promises, once again this year, a great musical diversity. On the program are regional, national but also international female artists. Thus, Haitian soul singer Leyla McCalla will unveil her latest album on stage at the Trianon Transatlantique in Sotteville-les-Rouen. Catherine Ringer will give a musical reading of texts by the poet Alice Mendelson. La Grande Sophie will offer a super creative concert like her latest album Modern life released in early 2023.
Since its creation in 2000, the strength of the Norman festival lies in the desire to break down borders. All styles as varied as jazz, blues, soul, folk, rock, French song, world, electro, traditional music or choral singing have their place. The opportunity to discover little musical nuggets like the warm folk of Canadian Julie Doiron, the captivating melodies of Huit Nuits, the tangy pop of Marjolaine Piémont, the Norman choir Insième made up of eleven singers and many other artists for whom the music is written in the feminine form. The festival will end with voices from all over the world around a big day dedicated to the choir.
Chants d’Elles Festival in Rouen and its region from November 4 to 19, 2023