15th SEASON VOIX DE LA MEDITERRANEE* In LODVE from 16 to 22 July 2012

*Voices of the Mediterranean The poetry festival in the heart of the Herault
In its 15th consecutive year, from 16 to 22 July, the Voix de la Mditerrane Festival unleashes poetry throughout the town on Lodeve. Readings, recitals, shows and concerts form a rich and vibrant gathering of poets and artists from all around the Mediterranean. Live and multicultural, there's something for all tastes. Honoured by the presence of Jacques Roubaud, the festival's special guest, but also including Misia, Antonio Placer, Aziz Sahmaoui the festival will be the perfect opportunity to combine a real celebration of diverse Mediterranean culture with some time-off in the sun.
Organized by the Communaut de Communes du Lodvois et Larzac, the festival is supported by, among others, the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, which will hold an exceptional preview on the evening of Thursday 7th June. The festival also enjoys the patronage of UNESCO who recognize the importance of this artistic endeavour, promoting peace, tolerance and meaningful dialogue between cultures.

Les Voix, a poetic landscape

Voix de la Mditerrane is a three part harmony : poetry, voice and the Mediterranean. Lodeve's unique situation makes it a perfect host for the festival its Mediterranean location, the diversity and origins of its inhabitants, and its human scale where exchanges are meaningful and good-natured. The whole town is involved in the festival: courtyards, streets, riverbanks by the old bridges, gardens, the cathedral cloister... everywhere witnesses poetry day and night. Thirty venues buzzing with words, gestures, and music, drenched in an atmosphere of camaraderie and bonhomie.

Les Voix, an abundance of poetry

The festival's aim is to offer to a large public the words of contemporary Mediterranean poets, to bring different countries and their peoples together and to dive into a creative and poetic richness together. 50 poets from more than 25 countries and a hundred artists, musicians, comedians and dancers will grace the town and offer more than 200 unique artistic events, mostly free, bringing poetry at every moment, for every age and for all tastes.

The 2012 programme characterizes the Voice's wish to encourage an interface between the public and poetry - a poetry that is discerning, alive, and accessible. Readings Each day, from morning until night, over thirty unique happenings: poetry strolls, multi-voice readings, conversations, musical and poetic performance, visual poetry, and round-table discussions Jacques Roubaud, poet, novelist and member of Oulipo, will be this year's special guest. He will be at the festival all week and will present a variety of events. Also present : Albanie/ Ali Podrimja Algrie/ Rachid Boudjedra Yamil Ghebalou - Brahim Tazaghart (berbre) Bosnie/ Mile Stoji Chypre/ Jenan Seluk Croatie/ Darija ili Egypte/ Gihan Omar Espagne/ Gustavo Vega - Albert Mestres (catalogne) France/ Olivier Apert - Jean-pierre Bobillot - Didier Bourda - Yal Cange Bernard Jacques Roubaud D.R Chambaz - Ludovic Degroote - Sebastian Dicenaire - Danielle Estebe Hoursiangou (occitanie) - Sylvie Fabre G - Mireille Fargier Caruso Isabelle Garron - Matthieu Gosztola - Claude Held - Emmanuel Hiriart Louis Lafabrie - Julien Marcland - Stephane Nowak Papantoniou - Roland Pcout (occitanie) Paul-Louis Rossi - Sarah Trouche Grce/ Dimitris Angelis - Nikolas Evadinos Isral/ Mordechai Geldman Italie/ Nicola Frangione - Anna Cristina Serra (sardaigne) Kosovo/ Ilire Zajmi Liban/ Etel Adnan Libye/ Abdouldaim Ukwas Macdoine/ Jovica Ivanovski Malte/ Karl Schembri Maroc/ Jamila Abitar Montngro/ Tanja Baki Palestine/ Fatena Al Ghorra Portugal/ Alfredo Costa Monteiro Roumanie/ Ioan Es.Pop Syrie/ Golan Haji Tunisie/ Emna Louzyr Turquie/ Gonca zmen Multi-disciplinary events The opening and closing evenings will be occasions of daring poetic intervention throughout the town. Les souffleurs, poetic commandos will open the festival whispering in the ears of passers-by, sharing poetic and philosophical secrets to the unexpecting bystander.

Les Souffleurs D.R

A literary ball, a real histoire danser debout, orchestrated by the Cooprative dcriture, will enthuse the dancer-spectators and provide a fitting climax to the festival. Poets, comedians and musicians alike will storm the Lodeve museum for a poeticly interactive visit.

Cooprative dcriture D.R

 Concerts every evening The festival will also take us on a musical journey across the Mediterranean, from Turkey to Portugal and form Morocco to French shores with virtuosos from the Istanbul Eastern Ensemble, the fado singer Misia, the Homage to Georges Brassens and a cocktail of jazz fusion from Aziz Sahmaoui, one of the founders of the National Orchestra of Barbs. A stage Nouvelles Voix offering music inspired by poetry will be a chance to discover young singers and slammers like Iaross, zoB and Des Fourmis dans les mains.
Misia C-B-Aragao

Street Market of poetry and Mediterranean books Lodeve's streets transform into a huge bookshop: browse through the vast array of stalls at the Street Market of poetry and Mediterranean books representing over 80 publishers. And also: open-air theatre for the young story-telling Cinema and poetry in partnership with the Lodve cinema Mediterranean specialities from make-shift restaurants on the river banks

Voix de la Mditerrane From 16 to 22 July 2012 in Lodve www.voixdelamediterranee.com