Music and singing
Not only cicadas sing here! The very famous singer Lucyle Panis was a local child. Born in Sérignan in 1886, Lucyle was noticed very early by her developed vocal organ. Her soprano voice became so strong that Canon Tarniquet wanted to train her in religious singing. From the age of 14, Lucyle, who had moved with her family to Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), was trained in opera singing. At the age of 21, when she won first prize at the Paris Conservatory, she entered the Opéra Garnier, where she made her debut on January 13, 1911, as Elizabeth in Wagner's Tannhäuser. "La Panis", as she was nicknamed, made a career of singing the greatest roles in Aida, Les Huguenots, Faust, La Tosca... in particular at the Théâtre des Arènes in Béziers, in Les Esclaves. His voice remains eternal today in this popular title of 1908, Frou-Frou, used in many films including La Grande Illusion in 1937, with Jean Gabin and Dita Parlo. In terms of music, Béziers is famous for its orchestra, the Lyre Biterroise. Founded in 1867 by Etienne Cazals, the orchestra has more than one hundred and fifty years of musical history. The orchestra has participated in the cultural life of the city of Béarn and, during its history, several conductors and presidents have succeeded one another. Particular mention should be made of the illustrious Béziers patron Castelbon de Beauxhostes and Camille Saint-Saëns, the famous composer of the lyrical tragedy Déjanire which he performed in 1898 at the Théâtre des Arènes in Béziers. Today directed by Victor Madrènes, the group of more than sixty musicians is now the official orchestra of the Béziers arenas. Finally, one cannot speak of music without alluding to the Languedoc festivals during which the totemic animals come to greet the crowds with their imposing carrers. During these parades, wind instruments are particularly popular, accentuating the rhythm of the processions with their cheerful sounds. The best known of these instruments is the Languedoc oboe, which is also often present during the jousts, and whose particular sound quickly becomes familiar to us. Another typical instrument of the region is the fife. A sort of small transverse flute similar to the piccolo, this instrument with a high-pitched sound is widely used in Occitan and Catalan folk music.
Local dances
To the sound of the traditional coblas, the typical Catalan orchestras, we meet the dancers of the sardana, the Catalan dance par excellence. The principle of this dance is simple: the dancers form a circle, holding hands, and then have to throw or lower their arms; the circle then comes to life, expanding or contracting to the rhythm of the music. Sardana dancers are often found in the summer months, at traditional gatherings and village festivals, and passers-by are often invited to join in the movement of the dancers. During the Béziers feria, or at other bullfighting gatherings, it is not uncommon to observe the beauty of flamenco and the delicacy of the Sevillana. These traditional dances originating from Spain have naturally found their place in Béarn and animate the streets. To differentiate them, nothing could be easier. Flamenco is danced alone and is accompanied by lively clapping of hands and feet to give off a certain emotion. The Sevillana is more joyful and is danced in pairs, in a circle or in a group. Note that flamenco in Béziers has its own festival: during the month of March, the city celebrates this art and welcomes the most famous flamenco dancers.
Theatres and concert halls
If the contemporary artists make vibrate with talent the theaters of Biterrois, there is a character who, in the only evocation of his name, is synonymous with theater: Molière. After perilous beginnings in the capital, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin and his troupe, L'Illustre Théâtre, embarked on a provincial adventure in order to make their first steps. Between 1647 and 1657, the artists criss-crossed the Languedoc region, meeting many people who allowed them to observe the customs of the time and to glean the little stories of everyday life that enriched the dialogue of the author's plays. During their journey, Molière and his company stopped in Béziers. It was here that on December 16, 1656 Molière staged the first performance of his first play Le Dépit amoureux. For the anecdote, at 9 avenue Alphonse Mas, in Béziers, are represented in trompe-l'oeil Molière and his troupe of actors playing the said play. The Théâtre municipal de Béziers will celebrate the 400th anniversary of Molière's birth in 2022 by devoting many of its performances to the artist's plays. The Béziers Méditerranée agglomeration can boast of having four theaters whose programs complement each other, thus giving the public the opportunity to diversify its choice of shows. If the Municipal Theater marks its difference by the architectural heritage it represents - an Italian-style hall from the middle of the 19th century -, Valras-Plage plays the singularity with its Theater of the Sea. In a superb setting between the beach and the port, this open-air theater offers a large stage and amphitheater seating. It is the place to be for summer shows in Valras. Cultural events have a bright future ahead of them: dance, song, classical music, concerts, film-theater, clown shows, choreographed tales, conferences and shows for young audiences, the offer is rich and varied and easily fits into one of the performance halls in the agglomeration. From the Scène départementale de Bayssan to La Cigalière in Sérignan, via the Arènes de Béziers, from the Palais des Congrès to the Zinga-Zanga, a contemporary venue at the gates of Béziers, artists can express their talents here, and the diversity of the facilities makes it possible to accommodate all forms of performances. In intimate settings, more grandiose halls or places steeped in history, the public is always curious and delighted to be able to participate and contemplate the artistic wealth of this territory steeped in art and culture.
