They came from the north, from the land of settlements, to Marquette-en-Ostrevant, and they wanted to see, in the blue Alpine sky, the sun in their hearts. Gérard was a glassmaker in Aniche and Michèle worked at the military recruiting office in Valenciennes. Both were musicians in the municipal harmony of Marquette, where Gérard was also the musical director.
900km further south, the mayor of Laragne-Montéglin, Marcel Rostain, was looking for a conductor to replace…