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Homegrown Hero: Deodat de Severac


14th April 2018

4th annual celebration of Déodat de Séverac

Biography

Image courtesy of Musée MúSIC, Céret

Composer Déodat de Séverac was born in Saint-Félix-Lauragais, not far from Toulouse, in 1872.

Son of aristocrat painter, Gilbert de Severac, he grew up surrounded by the arts. According to Christine Macé, coordinator of Músic Musée’s Department of Performing Arts, de Séverac’s ultimate vision lay at the “confluence of music and painting”.

After completing his studies in Paris, he arrived in Céret in 1909 and quickly settled in to the Catalan way of life, spending much of his time with friends such as Pablo Picasso and Picasso’s Cubist compadre, Georges Brach.

He became deeply enamored with his new home in Languedoc and in a letter to his poet friend, Jean Amade, he wrote that he “adores” le Vallespir and Ceret, and that Canigou is a “divine mountain.”

De Séverac’s love of Languedoc musical tradition and culture was soon joined by an equally strong fascination with Catalan music. He began to incorporate the sounds of coblas and the rhythmic patterns of the sardane into his compositions, which included opera, chorale and vocal music, as well as pieces for solo piano.

He died in Ceret in 1921 at the age of 49.

Each year, the town of Céret pays homage to the innovative composer with a day of conferences and concerts.

  • Motets et cantiques (mezzo-soprana and organ), 11.45am, Église Saint Pierre
  • Les chansons anciennes et populaires harmonised by de Severac for Yvette Guibert, 4.30pm, Mas de Nogarède

2018 will take a distinctly feminine perspective with an exhibition on Yvette Guilbert at the Musée MúSIC and two conferences on the women in his life: his wife, his sister, his mother, the wives and girlfriends of his artist friends…

  • Les femmes de Déodat à Céret by Yves Duchâteau, 10.30am, Médiathèque
  • L’univers féminin de Déodat by Jean-Bernard Cahours d’Aspry, 3pm, Mas de Nogarède

For more information contact the Office de Tourisme on 04 68 87 00 53

Details

Date:
14th April 2018
Event Categories:
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Venue

Céret