The hall of the Cornouaille theater in Quimper (Finistere) is well filled for this Friday, July 22, 2022, at 9 p.m. On stage, two singers and two singers are accompanied by seven musicians who play various instruments. For this 99e edition of Cornish Festivalthe organization has decided to pay tribute to a virtuoso poet of Breton music who died in 2019: Yann-Fañch Kemener.
A moment charged with emotion
Directed by Clément Le Goff, the show is co-produced by the Théâtre national de Bretagne and the Festival de Cornouaille. On stage, the weak and soft lights reinforce the solemn atmosphere of the show. The songs in Breton and the instruments play in harmony in the bass, a wave of emotion is felt in the room. The harmonium and the cello play together after the first song, enough to accentuate the lyricism and the feeling of grandeur and beauty of the moment.
The Kan ha diskan in the spotlight
Impossible to pay homage to Yann-Fañch Kamener without hearing Kan ha diskan. The Armorican poet was one of the major figures in the revival of this a cappella singing technique. This “chant and contre-chant” is a must in Breton culture. The serious energy that emanates from the scene is vibrant and moving. It is the poetic and poignant dimension of the moment that was sought by the collective. There is no doubt that spectators and the Cornouaille Festival will remember this evening.
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