Last night was my villages annual Voltaire festival which is held every summer in honor of the beloved patriarch. This year the celebration was a bit different because it was Rousseau's 300th birthday this week. Despite the fact that the two were contemporaneous, the philosopher and satirist hated each other. Voltaire is quoted as saying that Rousseau wanted us to “walk on all fours” like animals and behave like savages. Voltaire pushed for an enlighten monarch and had no sympathies for Rousseau's ideas on Democracy. Despite all this they are buried across from each other in the Pantheon in Paris, to hold heated debates for all eternity.
There strained relationship begs the question, How would Voltaire throw a party for Rousseau at his own home. This question was answered for me last night at the festival. Did I expect the answer would include a flash mob to Mama Mia? Of course not but, when you think of it it might be the perfect prank the author of Candide could play on his Swiss neighbor.
When I arrived at the Chateau with my landlords I was greeted by a man in historical garb leading around a horse and carriage. His face was painted into a fashionable pallor although I could but think he was a Rousseau zombie. There were five stages set up around the Chateau hosting everything from classic theater performances to flamenco dancing to flute choirs doing Shkira covers. People were in costumes everywhere, at one point we accidentally walked into an art piece where a handsome young man done up in enlightenment chic read to us passages from Rousseau while we slowly walk through the gardens. I went from being awkward to enamored and back again.
The grounds were full of tasty food tents from all over the world and I ate a Libyan dinner with a french dessert. Another fantastically french addition was the champagne garden in a drained 18th century fountain.
I've also found a way to spend my golden years. I am joining a french folk dancing troupe and playing the Hurdy Gurdy, the instruments amazing shape makes up for it sounding like shaking a can of trapped bees. This troupe of dancers and musicians had a median age of 73. This is young in comparison to the instruments they were playing which hand been handed down for over 200 years.
I feel more French already.
No comments:
Post a Comment