Voices in Vines at Château Roubine
Vineyard, old stones, Opera and starred night
Located right in the middle of Provence, between Lorgues and Draguignan, Château Roubine is one of the oldest wine estates of France. Famous ever since the 14th century: the Templars yielded the property to the Saint James of Jerusalem Order in 1307. Its strategic position on the “Julienne” Roman road and its particular beauty attracted many visitors throughout the years. In 1953, the Ministry of Agriculture awarded the property with the “Cru Classé” title, a prestigious vintage wines award. The history of the vineyard is drawn in the blazon of the Templars: first the Dragon, symbol of Draguignan town, then the Lion representing Lorgues, protected by the sunbeams of Provence. The owner Mrs Valerie Rousselle and her team know how to use the best of Nature to produce worldwide reputation top-of-the-range wines.
On an original idea of Valerie Rousselle and Claude-Nicole Martinot, "Voices in Vines" is the first edition of the lyric festival hosted by this prestigious Château. Believing that Culture rhymes with Viticulture and that an exceptional site deserves exceptional artists, Valerie Rousselle and Claude-Nicole Martinot have invited two world-famous opera stars: soprano coloratura Elisabeth Vidal and bass baritone André Cognet. The Saint Raphaêl Chamber Orchestra conducted by solo violin and conductor Jean-Sébastien Hubert accompanied the diva and the baritone who sang arias from Mozart’s Enchanted Flute and The Marriage of Figaro. Elisabeth Vidal, sublime in her beauty and quality of expression of her interpretations, and André Cognet’s talented and humor-imbued interpretations have enchanted the public during two days of festivities on July 8 & 9.
Voices in Vines was also the occasion of discovering the work of artist
John Van Slingerland, photographer, who presented his paint-like photos
giving to see Nature as we have forgotten to watch it.